Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has hailed Manchester United's Chris Smalling as the "best centre-back in the Premier League".
United as a team have been criticised for their negative style of play at times this season, but Smalling's individual performances have won plaudits, with no team having conceded fewer goals in the Premier League than the Red Devils.
Carragher had previously been critical of the England international following his big-money move to Old Trafford, but the former Liverpool stalwart believes that Smalling has now developed into the league's best player in his position.
"I'll go back to what I said about Smalling a couple of years ago where he never kicked on, but now he's become a man," he told Sky Sports News.
"He's become a leader for Manchester United and I think this season the improvement he's made to where he's come now, I think he's been the best centre-back in the Premier League. A lot of United's defensive record comes from him."
Despite Smalling's form, United have gone six matches without a victory, resulting in manager Louis van Gaal's position at the club reportedly coming under threat.
Barney Corkhill
