It’s in Their Blood- The Premier League’s Best Brothers

Matty Longstaff's winning strike against Manchester United on Sunday marked a sensational debut for the 19-year-old midfielder. However, the occasion was even more special for the boyhood Newcastle fan as he played the full 90 minutes alongside his elder brother Sean. 

The pair follow in the footsteps of several sets of brothers to have played in England's topflight together, but which set of siblings has etched their family name into Premier League history the deepest? Who has lived in the shadow of their blood relative? Who are the top five Premier League brothers?

5. Andre and Jordan Ayew (Swansea City, Aston Villa, West Ham United)

The Ayew brother's inclusion in this list perhaps offers an indication at just how special Sunday was for the Longstaff brothers. However, with nearing 200 Premier League appearances between them and over 40 goals, it seems unfair to dismiss the Ghanaian international sibling's contribution to the Premier League. After breaking into Marseille's first team, the pair both made over 100 appearances for the French side before swapping mainland Europe for England in 2015.

Andre and Jordan joined Swansea City and Aston Villa respectively and impressed in their first Premier League campaign. Andre's successes led to West Ham purchasing the striker for £20 million, which in turn led to Swansea replacing him half a season later with his brother Jordan. The pair spent a brief stint together in Wales, as Swansea resigned Andre the following January. The brothers Premier League careers are complicated to follow and it's unlikely they'll be remembered long into the future, but for now the Ayews career in the topflight deserves recognition.

4. Shola and Sammy Ameobi (Newcastle United)

Sometimes it takes an older sibling to carry the younger one, and that is definitely the case with the Ameobis. Whilst Sammy's is beginning to make a name for himself in the second tier with a bright Nottingham Forest squad, his 57 appearances for Newcastle allows him a place on this list of Premier League siblings. The Longstaff brothers will be hoping to make-up even half of the legendary status held by Shola Ameobi. With goals against Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen, and the nickname 'the Mackem slayer' due to his prolific nature against bitter rivals Sunderland, Shola Ameobi is one of Newcastle United's greatest unsung heroes.

Whilst it may deter from the concept of great footballing brothers, thanks to Shola's 14 year spell in the North East the pair have made over 350 Premier League appearances in black and white, and therefore it is impossible to not include them as one of the Prem's leading set of siblings. Shola and Sammy have both represented England at U21 level, with Shola going on to play for Nigeria, the country of his birth, at the 2014 World Cup.

3. Rio and Anton Ferdinand (West Ham United, Leeds United, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers, Sunderland)

With six years separating the brothers that hailed from Peckham, the Ferdinands hold over 700 Premier League appearances to their name, discounting those made by their Uncle Les before them. Rio came through the ranks at West Ham, making his debut in the 1995/96 season appearing over 150 times in all competitions for the Hammers before becoming Leeds United's record signing in 2000, moving north for £18 million, a British record transfer fee, and the world's highest for a defender. However, it was at Leeds's bitter rivals Manchester United where Ferdinand found himself, with 455 appearances in all competitions for the English giants.

To say Anton lived in his shadow would be harsh, but with Rio named consistently as one of the greatest defenders of his generation, Anton's achievements of over 200 Premier League appearances is somewhat belittled in comparison. The siblings both demonstrated a classic British centre-back, strong in the tackle and good in the air, and whilst their Premier League legacy is mostly controlled by that of elder sibling Rio, the Ferdinand's remain one of England's most successful footballing brothers.

2. Yaya and Kolo Touré (Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool)

With four Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two Football League Trophies and three Community Shields, the Touré brothers won all there was to win domestically in England. An impressive trophy haul matched only by the Ivorian brother's iconic status in the English game.

Elder brother Kolo had already made his name in England by the time he was joined by his younger sibling Yaya in 2010. The centre back had made over 200 appearances for Arsenal, including 37 in their unbeaten title winning campaign. Leaving North London with hero status in 2009, the defender joined a Manchester City side who were fuelled with the new riches off Sheikh Mansour and was joined a year later by Yaya. Yaya had been applying his trade for Spanish giants Barcelona, winning the Champions League the summer before is transfer to City.

Whilst playing in the same squad, the Tourés aided City in winning their first Premier League title in 2012, before Kolo left Greater Manchster for Merseyside in 2013. Yaya would go on to play over 200 times for City in the Prem, winning two more league titles and City's player of the season award in 2012/13 campaign.

The Touré brothers hold over 500 Premier League appearances and have won trophy after trophy, whilst successfully cementing themselves as club legends within their respective teams, yet perhaps their most notable achievement is being the subject of one of the Prem's most iconic chants from their time together at Manchester City.

1. Gary and Phil Neville (Manchester United, Everton)

Unsurprisingly, it's the brothers from Bury who take the title. Amassing over 900 topflight appearances, the brothers emerged from Manchester United's iconic Class of '92, and enjoyed successful careers in the Premier League for almost twenty years.

Gary was a mainstay with United over his whole career, turning out over 500 times for the Red's winning over 20 trophies and serving as club captain for five years, whilst earning 85 England caps in the process. Phil decided to venture elsewhere with his career, but only after over 250 games in Manchester, six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and one UEFA Champions League he moved to Everton.

Whilst at Everton, Phil established himself as the club captain leading to himself and Gary becoming the first pair of brothers to oppose each other as captains in 2006 as Everton took on United at Old Trafford.

The brothers long-lasting Premier League careers contributed to a legacy which will be hard to be outdone, Gary is well regarded as one of England's finest ever full-backs, whilst Phil's career has steered him into the path of international management within the women's game, recently leading the Lionesses to a World Cup semi-final.

A few honourable mentions... It seems unfair to not mention some of the brother's who have missed out on the list.

For example, Xabi Alonso is potentially one of the worlds greatest midfielders. The Spaniard turned out for a Liverpool side that memorably won the Champions League in 2005 and who could forget his elder brother Mikel's 7 loan appearances for Bolton Wanderers in the 2007/2008 season?

John Arne Rise also contributed to Liverpool's European successes making over 200 appearances for the Merseyside club, yet don't let this over shadow his brother Bjørn Helge's 15 Prem games with Fulham.

It's likely the Longstaffs will be hoping to emulate the careers of the Nevilles or Tourés rather than the De Jongs or Ethus and become one of the Premier Leagues leading brotherly partnerships. 

Image from Eurosport.