‘Never seen before’ - Jamie Carragher lauds performance of Man City star v Man Utd

Jamie Carragher has praised the impact of John Stones in Sunday’s 3-1 Manchester derby victory.

The England international lined up at centre-back for Manchester City but habitually drove into midfield, and often bypassed the likes of Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne in search of goals. Speaking on Monday Night Football, Carragher claimed this approach was used to exploit the weaknesses in Manchester United’s midfield, with a gap created as Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo stuck close to City’s midfielders.

But it was more than just an impressive performance that stood out for the former Liverpool centre-back, and Carragher said Stones is showcasing talents that he’s never seen before in the Premier League.

"I think we are watching something I have never seen in English football before,” claimed the 46-year-old. "I have been watching football from the mid-’80s and I grew up and the only defender you would class as a classy centre-back on the ball was Alan Hansen of Liverpool.

"I remember then watching [Franco] Baresi, he would come out with the ball, again pretty similar, he would run with the ball from the back. Rio Ferdinand, I think, was another one of those.

"The only one who I can think is doing what John Stones is doing now is Mathias Sammer around Euro 96, that was when I watched him play as a sweeper for Germany. It wasn’t about just coming out with the ball, it was actually making runs.

"You can have a guy at the back who is really good with the ball, you can have a guy who steps in and dribbles with the ball, or you can have a guy who moves into the midfield in a sitting role. John Stones is going from centre-back to a No.10, we have never seen this before."

On the performance against United, Carragher added: “The interesting thing is the 39 passes in the final third, that’s the most he’s ever had in a Premier League appearance.”

Pep Guardiola has regularly spoken about Stones’ importance in his side and said earlier this season that City would be ‘in trouble’ without both the former Everton man and Rodri at the base of midfield.

Stones’ outstanding display against United was his 20th appearance of what has been an injury-ravaged campaign. The 29-year-old sustained three separate injuries earlier this season and it took until late October for him to start a Premier League game, although Stones has started in all of the last four City matches.