5 best centre-back duos in the Premier League right now (2021)

The Premier League doesn't fail to disappoint, with entertainment guaranteed every week. Some of the best players in world football play in the English top-flight.

The quality of the Premier League is excellent. While the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne tend to grab the attention, some world-class defenders play in the Premier League as well.

On that note, let's look at the five best centre-back duos in the Premier League right now (2021).

#5 Adam Webster - Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Leeds United v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League

An all-English centre-back partnership kicks off our list. Adam Webster and Lewis Dunk have both established themselves as two of the better centre-backs in the Premier League.

Brighton & Hove Albion have impressed under the management of Graham Potter. Dunk and Webster, in particular, have shone. Dunk is a product of the Brighton & Hove Albion academy and the captain of the club. Physically dominant and renowned for his personality, the England international has led the club well.

Webster, on the other hand, is a ball-playing centre-back. The 26-year old did not come cheap, costing the Seagulls £20 million in 2019. Webster has not disappointed and it would not be surprising to see him become an England international soon.

Shane Duffy has made an excellent start to the 2021/22 campaign as well. Brighton & Hove Albion sold star centre-back Ben White went to Arsenal this summer for nearly £53 million. They did not buy a replacement, but given the form of Dunk, Webster and Duffy, this decision seems understandable.

#4 Ruben Dias - Nathan Ake (Manchester City)

Manchester City v Leicester City - The FA Community Shield

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has an abundance of options at centre-back. It is not easy to predict which pairing he is going to go with for the next game.

One certainty is Ruben Dias. The Portugal international joined Manchester City from Benfica for £61.2 million last summer. His performances since then have seen him labeled as one of the best centre-backs in world football. His impact last season was such that he won the Premier League Player of the Season.

John Stones partnered Dias last season, to excellent effect. This time around, Guardiola has alternated between Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake. Both Ake and Laporte are left-footed centre-backs, and both of them cost a lot of money.

Ake joined the club from Bournemouth last summer for nearly £41 million. The Netherlands international was not a consistent presence in Manchester City's backline last season. This time around, he has made a strong start to the campaign and the 26-year old looks set to provide strong competition to Laporte and Stones.

Also Read: 4 managers who could replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United

#3 Antonio Rudiger - Thiago Silva (Chelsea)

Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel prefer to play with three centre-backs. However, the impact of Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger on the Chelsea defense cannot be underestated.

Rudiger, before Tuchel's arrival, looked set to leave the club. The Germany international had joined Chelsea from Roma in 2017 for £31.5 million. While he produced some good performances, the appointment of Frank Lampard reduced his minutes. Tuchel changed that and made him an important part of the Chelsea defense.

Silva, on the other hand, was regarded as one of the best centre-backs in world football during his prime. The 37-year old joined the club on a free transfer last summer and has surprised everyone with his performances. He has adapted quickly to the Premier League and is one of the best centre-backs in England right now.

Both Rudiger and Silva are physically gifted players. They are comfortable with the ball at their feet as well. Tuchel has options at centre-back, with Andreas Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta and Trevoh Chalobah all available. Silva and Rudiger, however, are important fixtures in Chelsea's backline. They started in the Champions League final last season, which the Blues won.

#2 Raphael Varane - Harry Maguire (Manchester United)

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United - Premier League

One of the many issues highlighted for Manchester United last season was the lack of pace in their starting centre-backs.

Neither Victor Lindelof nor Harry Maguire are renowned for their speed. Lindelof was often criticized for lacking physicality as well. While buying a centre-back this summer was not extremely important, the availability of Raphael Varane forced Manchester United to act.

Varane is one of the most decorated centre-backs in world football right now. A World Cup and four-time Champions League winner, the 28-year old wanted a new challenge, and targeted the Premier League. Manchester United came calling, and the France international immediately added elegance, pace and assurance to the Red Devils' backline.

Maguire, on the other hand, is the most expensive centre-back in world football. The England international is the captain of Manchester United, and one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. Aerially dominant and excellent on the ball, the 28-year old has already formed a strong partnership with Varane.

#1 Joel Matip - Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Liverpool FC v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League

Liverpool's injury woes last season have been well-covered. Jurgen Klopp had to make do without three of his starting centre-backs for much of the 2020/21 season.

Virgil van Dijk was comfortably the best centre-back in the world before his serious injury last year. The Netherlands international has recovered well though, and has slotted straight into Liverpool's backline once again in the Premier League. There was some rustiness initially, but the 30-year old is clearly getting back to his dominant best.

Before the start of the season, there was debate as to who would partner Van Dijk in the Premier League. Joel Matip and Joe Gomez had both recovered from their injuries as well. Liverpool had also signed French centre-back Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig for £36 million in the summer.

So far, Matip has been preferred. The Cameroon international has had his issues with injuries, but he has been excellent this season. Matip is a strong defender, with good athleticism. The 30-year old is a fan favorite among the Liverpool faithful, who hope that he can stay fit and continue producing top-quality displays.

Also Read: 5 stars who have had a slow start to the new Premier League season (2021-22)

About the author

Abhinav is a journalist who covers football at Sportskeeda. An avid football fan and long-suffering supporter of Manchester United, he currently writes previews, covering football leagues across the world. Armed with a good understanding of SEO and journalism guidelines, Abhinav possesses a strong knowledge of football and footballers. He loves a good transfer rumor and loves discussing the sport with his friends and family.

He's also pursuing a Master's Degree in International Relations.

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Edited by Sankalp Srivastava