Whose opinions are more acceptable: Mutaqaddimīn) or Muta’akhkhirīn?

Someone is claiming to me that if there is a difference of opinion in fiqh between an early scholar (Mutaqaddim) and a later scholar (Muta’akhkhir), then the opinion or fatwa of the early scholar must be accepted, and the later scholar’s opinion should be considered invalid. Is this actually true? Are the early scholars always more knowledgeable than the later scholars in all cases? Even if the two scholars belong to different madhhabs, is it still necessary to follow the opinion of the earlier scholar?”**