This Premier League season has seen a slew of exceptional defenders, and we've narrowed it down to the top 10, which includes some Liverpool and Chelsea players.
Defenders don't get enough credit in the contemporary game; instead, it's saved for goal scorers, magical midfielders, and excellent goalkeepers - but that may be changing.
It's no longer surprising to see defenders score goals, and their ability to move the ball is crucial in moving the game forward. With the Premier League season nearing the end, it will be the dependable heads at the bottom of the field who will determine where each team finishes in the table at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 22.
"Attack wins games, defense wins trophies," declared renowned Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. After recognizing our top 10 goalkeepers of the season, it's time to turn our attention to the defenders and rate the finest of the season.
Tino Livramento is number ten.
It's understandable that a 19-year-first old's season of senior football be a few divisions below the Premier League, but Southampton's rampaging right-back didn't need to get his bearings in the lower leagues before making the jump to the top flight.
Prior to this season, the adolescent has only ever played for Chelsea's younger teams, and he got off to a flying start in August. After displacing mainstay Kyle Walker-Peters to an unfamiliar role on the left, he shone in the Saints' 1-1 draw with Manchester United in their second league match of the season.
Granted, Ralph Hasenhuttl's back line is notoriously porous, which is one of the reasons Mohamed Salisu didn't make the team, but Livramento has been a revelation. Matty Cash and Reece James were also unlucky not to make it, but the story of the Stamford Bridge product is too compelling to ignore. Even with the country's glut of strong right-backs, England honours appear to be a foregone conclusion in the next years.
Livramento has taken over the Premier League. Coady, Conor
The Wolves skipper has recovered from a disappointing season last time around to remind everyone how excellent he is - and how important he is to his team. Only three teams have conceded less goals than Bruno Lage's side - the top three, in fact - and their captain has been a significant reason for it.
The England international has played over 3,000 minutes for Wolves this season, making him the first player at Molineux to do so, including all 30 Premier League games. After being chastised for his lack of goals in the past, a trio of goals this season have been the cherry on top of a fantastic turnaround... most notably his winner at Everton.
Teammates Max Kilman and Romain Saiss have also had outstanding seasons, with Lage's acquisition of goalkeeper Jose Sa assisting them tenfold. However, none of them would be as impressive if it weren't for the 29-year-old Liverpudlian barking orders and leading by example.
Ben White, no. 8
Brighton's Ben White was undeniably a competent Premier League player by the summer of 2021. But is £50 million a worthwhile investment? Arsenal thought so, and spent big to make the 24-year-old, who had just been called up to the England squad ahead of the European Championships, the new cornerstone of their defense.
He had a rocky debut against Brentford on the first night of the season, with Rio Ferdinand asking whether he needed a tougher partner than Gabriel Magalhaes opposite him; the former Brighton starlet was dubbed "wet behind the ears." Mikel Arteta, on the other hand, was adamant that the pair would represent Arsenal's future, and the two have formed a strong partnership.
The Gunners have conceded 31 goals this season, the most of the four Champions League contenders (Spurs, Manchester United, and West Ham), boosting them to fourth place with ten games remaining. White has all the attributes to be a top modern-day defender, and those at the Emirates would argue he's been England's best centre-back this season. Cool, calm, and collected, but with a growing desire to get hands-on with opposing attackers, White possesses all the acumen to be a top modern-day defender, and those at the Emirates would argue he's been England's best centre-back this season.
After this season, White's £50 million price tag appears to be a more rational selection.
Andy Robertson, no. 7
Robertson, a player whose form spans more than 18 months in the Premier League, has once again been a driving force down Liverpool's left flank this season. After missing the first half of the season due to injury, the Scotland captain is averaging a direct goal contribution every other game.
Robertson's prowess is showing no signs of slowing down at the age of 28, with the Reds' last league goal coming two months ago - and he grabbed two assists that day to make amends, as they beat Crystal Palace 3-1 at Selhurst Park on their way to being within one point of leaders Manchester City at the March international break.
Jurgen Klopp's ever-reliable defender is continuing to define the job of the contemporary full-back and making a mockery of the £8 million price tag Liverpool paid for him when he was signed from Hull City in 2017.
Joel Matip, No. 6
Staying at Anfield and Joel Matip, a fan favorite who is now receiving accolades from other quarters. Despite Klopp's trust in him, the 30-year-old has frequently been shuffled in and out of the Reds' back line owing to injuries and the form of others, but this season has seemed different.
Matip is definitely first-choice when the big games roll around, relegating Joe Gomez to fourth place and keeping £36 million signing Ibrahima Konate on the bench for the most part. The Premier League rewarded his excellent recent form with its Player of the Month award for February. Competent on the ball and a towering presence in both boxes, the Premier League rewarded his excellent recent form with its Player of the Month award for February.
Matip's fitness will be key to Liverpool's quest to become an all-conquering team, as his darting out of defence is unrivaled in the division in terms of both quality and entertaining, and his game reading is second to none. In September, Klopp said, "Look, I can't assist people who don't see Joel Matip's quality." There aren't many people left who don't believe it.
Matip is a Liverpool fan favorite.
Antonio Rudiger, No. 5
Chelsea is one of only two clubs in the Premier League this season to have conceded less goals than Liverpool. Despite a difficult winter, Thomas Tuchel's team has been untouchable on 13 occasions, with Antonio Rudiger putting up a number of spectacular performances.
With his wiry strength, ferocity, and understanding of football's dark arts, the German has been an important element of the Blues' system, primarily working on the left side of their back three and harassing attackers. From Chelsea's perspective, one disadvantage of Rudiger's form is that he's been placing himself in the shop window for a summer move elsewhere.
The 29-year-contract old's expires in June, and due to Chelsea's financial difficulties as a result of government fines, as well as their past refusal to fulfill his salary demands, a new contract has yet to be signed, making a move overseas increasingly plausible. While a takeover could be completed in the next weeks, it may be too late to save one of the league's best players.
Virgil van Dijk (No. 4)
When it comes to the league's best, few would dispute that Virgil van Dijk is not the best centre-back in the world right now. After missing much of last season due to injury, the Dutch man mountain required some time to get back to his best, but his quality has steadily improved throughout 2021-22, and he's back to his best just in time for the new season.
Van Dijk has a cool demeanor while also instilling dread in the eyes of rival forwards, with a growing number of them avoiding a race with the Liverpool ace, most notably Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez.
The ex-Celtic and Southampton mammoth has been brilliant of late, but a few shaky performances in his 27 appearances at the start of the season - when he was readjusting to life again in the top division - means he only comes in at No.4 on our list.
Van Dijk has returned to his finest form.
3. Thiago Silva is a Brazilian footballer.
Is there anything else to say about this man? The 37-year-old is one of the most experienced players in English football, and it shows. Thiago Silva has consistently steadyed the ship whenever the Blues have weathered turbulent waters this season.
At his age, it's a remarkable feat that he continues to be nothing short of spectacular in such a fast-paced competition as the Premier League. His defensive nous has stood the test of time, and he isn't going anywhere anytime soon, having signed a new contract at Stamford Bridge in January, which would keep him at the club until June 2023, when he will be just months away from being 39.
His incredible, persistent brilliance has been evident for all to witness since his arrival in the Premier League, having reached five finals and winning three winners' medals during his 18 months at Chelsea. Chelsea misses his unflappable leadership when he's not around. You could argue that he's better now than he's ever been.
Joao Cancelo is number two on the list.
When we mentioned that defenders are getting a lot more attention these days, it's because of players like Cancelo who have helped us rethink our minds about the full-back position. The Portuguese has exploded this season to new heights after a strong season last time out. Capable of playing superbly on either the right or left flank, the Portuguese has exploded this term to new heights after a strong season last time out.
Cancelo's five assists and one goal are respectable, if not spectacular, but his ingenuity is astounding. The 27-year-old has made more passes into the penalty area (75) than any other player in the league this season, and his 110 carries into the final third are also a league best. Although it may seem harsh to have only one City player on this list given that they have conceded the fewest goals, their continual chopping and changing has seen Cancelo play over 3,000 minutes, 600 more than the next-best Ruben Dias.
Pep Guardiola's favorite full-back, the former Juventus star is in his peak years at the highest level, and if it weren't for a man who leads the charts, he'd be the league's greatest full-back.
Cancelo is one of the top full-backs in the world.
Participate in the discussion! Who has been the finest defender in the Premier League this season? Leave a comment with your choice.
Trent is number one. Alexander-Arnold
You were all expecting it. Alexander-Arnold has reminded everyone in 2021-22 of his unquantifiable talent, after doing his best to survive in an injury-ravaged back line previous season and missing out on Euro 2020 owing to injury.
Although he has been playing behind the league's greatest this season in Mohamed Salah, which has aided his record of 11 assists, his individual brilliance with the ball, which has also resulted in two amazing goals, should not be overlooked. His free-kick against West Ham in November was a beauty, and his stunning strike against Newcastle just before Christmas will be remembered.
Since establishing himself as a regular for his boyhood club, the 23-year-old has been among Europe's best full-backs. This season, however, he's taken it to a new level. He's been an 8/10 in the majority of matches, has improved defensively, both in one-on-one play and positional awareness, and appears to have finally beaten Gareth Southgate.
"I don't know any other player in the world that plays like Trent," Klopp believes. It's difficult to disagree.
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