Liverpool legend Alan Hansen rates Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic the best defender in the Premier League - by some distance.

Vidic was outstanding in victory at Everton on Saturday.

Hansen wrote in the Telegraph: "That is why Vidic is head and shoulders above every other defender in the Premier League at the moment.

"At 30, he is still relatively young, but he has the experience and knowledge and is so commanding in the penalty area that you know he will defend the 18-yard line all day long.

"Everybody is looking for good centre-backs because they are worth their weight in gold, but where are they?

"Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are going to become good ones, but the difference between being good and being ready is like night and day.

"Jones is still only 19 and learning the game, but you cannot underestimate the importance of two reliable centre-halves."