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#3 Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
Considered to be one of the best defenders of his generation, Thiago Silva surprised many when he joined Premier League giants Chelsea in 2020. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) shockingly allowed him to leave on a free without even having any contract talks.
Nevertheless, the move worked out well for both Thiago Silva and the Premier League club. Chelsea desperately needed a leader at the back and the Brazilian has done exactly that. He has rallied the troops well and despite a few injuries, his arrival has certainly helped the Blues.
With his strong defending, amazing aerial abilities and intelligence on the pitch, Silva has been a key player for Thomas Tuchel. Chelsea have had a good start to the Premier League and with the Brazilian as their backbone, they will be hoping to win it by the end of the season.
#2 Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
One of the Premier League's most consistent players in the last decade has to be Cesar Azpilicueta. The Spaniard is also one of the most versatile players in the league right now.
Arriving from Marseille in 2012, the Spanish defender has been a regular player for Chelsea irrespective of the manager or the formation used. Azpilicueta can play as a right-back, right wing-back, centre-back and also as a left-back. His versatility has given more reliability and options to the manager at the helm, which is not something every player can provide.
In his 305 Premier League appearances for the London club, Azpilicueta has scored nine goals and recorded 35 assists. It is a phenomenal record considering his position has changed time and again. To date, the Spaniard remains an underrated defender.
#1 Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
The 30-year old has been a revelation in the Premier League, especially since he joined Liverpool in 2018. But Virgil van Dijk first arrived in England when he signed for Southampton.
The Dutch defender has been a rock at the back for the Reds ever since he signed for them. His presence has stabilized the defense and provided a lot of relaxation for goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Van Dijk has not only been aggressive but also smart with his decision-making at the back.
Jurgen Klopp has relied a lot on the Dutchman's presence and it was evident why they struggled last season in his absence due to injury. Van Dijk played a massive role in helping Liverpool win the 2019-20 Premier League season, scoring five goals and playing in all 38 matches. That season, the Reds conceded only 33 goals, keeping 13 cleansheets in the process. He also won the Champions League in 2019, finishing second in the race for the Ballon d'Or in the same year.
