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The Premier League has always seen defenders play an influential role in the final outcome. May it be a team battling relegation or a team fighting for the title, the man at the back will always remain vital.
Premier League greats like John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell, Nemanja Vidic and many others have set high standards for game-play to be met. With the increasing competition, it is always going to be a task for the defenders to live up to.
The Premier League is blessed with quality defenders
The 2021-22 Premier League season has witnessed some wonderful defensive performances. Modern-day football has increased the contribution of defenders in front of goal and it is certainly a delight to watch.
Manchester City remain the only club in the Premier League this season not to concede in double digits. It has not been easy this term, yet some defenders have performed at a very high level. On that note, let's take a look at the top defensive players based on the ratings.
Note: Minimum 12 appearances are considered. All ratings are as per WhoScored
#5 James Tarkowski (Burnley - 7.12)
James Tarkowski has been one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League in the past five years. His presence at the back has been crucial for Burnley.
Despite the Clarets struggling this season, James Tarkowski has managed to put in some good performances. His aerial abilities combined with his good reading of the game make him a very handy defender to have in the team.
The English defender has also been effective in contributing in attack as he has scored once and recorded two assists in the Premier League this season. He will have to play a massive role in helping Burnley get out of the relegation zone by the end of the season.
#4 Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool - 7.17)
The importance of Virgil van Dijk to the Liverpool team just cannot be undermined. The Dutchman has been a phenomenal player while playing for the Reds with the reliability he provides at the back.
Using his tall and strong physique, Virgil van Dijk is always an asset in the air. His smart reading of the game and timely tackling provides a lot of comfort to his teammates. Not just that, the Dutch centre-back is quite a lethal threat from set-pieces.
Virgil van Dijk has done quite well in the Premier League this season and has already scored and assisted once. His form will play a significant role in Liverpool's attempt to win the league title this season.
#3 Joel Matip (Liverpool - 7.22)
The Premier League has some underrated defenders and Joel Matip is surely one of them. Playing for a star-studded Liverpool team, the Cameroon defender deserves more appreciation for his performances.
Joel Matip struggled with injuries last season but looks fit now and will play an important role for the Reds this season. The tall centre-back has a composed style of play and a lot of his game depends on the timing of his tackles and interceptions.
The Liverpool defender is also a very good passer of the ball. He likes to find his attacking teammates using some smart long balls. Alongside Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip has done a really good job this season. Should he stay injury-free this season, he will definitely get more acknowledgement for his performances.
#2 Joao Cancelo (Manchester City - 7.36)
Not many defenders in the Premier League are as effectively versatile as Joao Cancelo is. The Manchester City full-back has done a superb job playing as a wide-defender under Pep Guardiola this season.
Primarily a right-back, Joao Cancelo can easily play as a left-back. With Benjamin Mendy suspended, the Portuguese is more often than not used as a left-back. Cancelo has been very impressive there with his incisive passing and creative abilities.
With four assists to his name already in the Premier League, the Portuguese defender would want to add more. Joao Cancelo's dynamic game-play will help Manchester City in breaking the opposition and creating goals.
#1 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool - 7.75)
Another Liverpool defender on this list is Trent Alexander-Arnold. The English full-back has simply been outstanding this season in the Premier League.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has a wonderful technique to pass or cross the ball, providing some exquisite balls to his teammates. He is very effective on set-pieces and has a knack for scoring through free-kicks. So far, the English defender has scored two goals and recorded eight assists in the Premier League.
No defender in the league has contributed this much, which speaks volumes about Alexander-Arnold's abilities. With him and Mohamed Salah on the right flank for Liverpool, it is a terrible time to be a left-back in the Premier League.
