Defence
In a league that has seen its ups and downs, it has never been short on goals. As the EPL reaches yet another 1,000-goal season, the defenders have never had it any easier. But a select few have stepped up to claim these positions their own.
Our centre-back pairing sees Tottenham’ s Toby Alderweireld and Leicester’s Robert Huth. Alderweireld was only signed last summer from Atletico Madrid but had his debut EPL season at Southampton when he was on loan.
Mauricio Pochettino has done incredibly well to drill the Spurs into an effective defensive unit that has the best defence in the league. The north London side have conceded the least number of goals so far (25) and the Belgian defender has been at the heart of it all.
Defensive duties apart, he even managed to score four goals. He looked a shoo-in to be a nominee for the PFA Player of the Year award if not for the love of attacking players.
Huth impressed the Foxes enough during his loan spell last season as he completed a permanent move to the King Power Stadium. Although Claudio Ranieri’s side were leaking goals at the start of the season, they have plugged the holes at the business end as they kept one clean sheet after another. Huth also managed to score twice in the all-important 3-1 win at the Etihad that helped the Foxes extend their lead at the top.
Our full-backs see two more players from the top two with Spurs’ Kyle Walker and Leicester’s Christian Fuchs. Walker had a disastrous start to the season with an own goal in the first game against Manchester United.
But he has picked himself up since and accumulated some jaw-dropping numbers. Many would say Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin should make the team but even statistically Walker beats his numbers in both defence and attack.
Fuchs, on the other hand, has been another steal for Leicester. Signed on a free transfer, the Austrian has been ever-present on the flanks, creating chances and throwing himself into tackles to win the ball back with great success.
