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The 2020-21 Premier League season was truly a sight to behold. Fans worldwide were blessed to see some of the best footballing talents on display.
With Manchester City taking home the title last season, it was no surprise that they also had the best defensive record in the league. As we've seen with numerous title-winning sides previously, a solid backline is almost always the first step in the blueprint to winning the Premier League.
That said, let's take a look at the top five defenders in the Premier League right now.
#5 Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk is arguably the most important piece in the Liverpool backline.
Signed in 2018 from Southampton for a record £75 million, the Dutchman galvanized Liverpool's defense almost instantly. In his first half-season with the Reds, van Dijk was integral to Liverpool reaching the UEFA Champions League final. Although they lost the prize to Real Madrid, his impact was phenomenal throughout the season.
The following season, van Dijk picked up from where he left off. The Dutchman was easily the best defender in the world that year and went on to set several defensive records.
He had a brilliant season overall that culminated in Liverpool's UEFA Champions League victory over Spurs. Van Dijk was named the Player of the Match in the final. He also picked up the PFA Player's Player of the Year award to top off a brilliant season.
In the 2019-20 season, van Dijk featured in each and every minute of Liverpool's Premier League campaign. The Reds went on to win the Premier League for the first time in 30 years, establishing van Dijk's status as a modern-day great.
Van Dijk was a big miss for Liverpool after picking up an injury last season. He was forced out for the remainder of their campaign in October and the Reds did not have a commanding defender to replace him. Although Liverpool managed an unexpected third-placed finish, van Dijk's presence might have helped them record a better overall season.
He will be a key member of the squad next season as Liverpool look to fight for the Premier League once again.
#4 Harry Maguire - Manchester United
Harry Maguire has evolved into one of Manchester United's most important players.
The centre-back was signed from Leicester in 2019 for a record £80 million, making him the world's most expensive defender. Although he received criticism during the initial part of his spell with the club, he has since improved to become one of the best defenders in the league.
Revered for his aerial ability and distribution, Maguire has been a mainstay in the Manchester United backline. He played almost every minute of United's 2020-21 campaign before an injury towards the end of the season.
Maguire has also made a habit of scoring goals on occasion, particularly from set-pieces. His height and physicality enable him to compete in the air and often come out the victor.
With United finishing second last season, one of the key areas of improvement is their defense and finding a partner for Maguire. They are on the hunt in the transfer market and will hope to find a player that complements the Englishman.
Maguire also had an excellent outing with England at UEFA Euro 2020 as his side made it to the finals. Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be banking on Maguire to carry his form into the club season and help United challenge for the Premier League.
#3 Luke Shaw - Manchester United
Luke Shaw has been one of the Premier League's most improved players over the last year.
Having joined from Southampton in 2014, Shaw's stint with Manchester United has been underwhelming due to injuries and a fallout with Jose Mourinho. Although he did perform at his best in the 2018-19 season, he seemed to have fallen off the pace a little in the following season.
However, Shaw roared back and silenced his critics last year with a string of unbelievable performances in the 2020-21 campaign. Lining up on the left side of the defensive line, he was regularly seen bursting down the wings and delivering inch-perfect crosses.
Shaw seems like a transformed player and has received appreciation for his performances from all corners. His performances earned him a call-up to the English national team, as well as a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
Shaw was excellent for England as well and bagged three assists at Euro 2020. He even scored the Three Lions' only goal in the final of the tournament, although his side were ultimately beaten by Italy on penalties.
Shaw also won the Manchester United Players' Player of the Year award last season. There is no doubt the left-back will be instrumental in deciding United's success in the 2021-22 campaign.
#2 John Stones - Manchester City
John Stones has developed into one of Manchester City's most dependable players.
Despite joining in 2016, Stones initially struggled to break into the starting XI. He was used as a squad player and given chances during domestic cup games. A brief period of form in the 2017-18 campaign saw him become a starter for Pep Guardiola's men. However, Stones fell off the pace once again and was relegated to the bench for much of the 2019-20 season.
The Englishman is well-known for his physical presence. Standing at 1.88m, Stones is very effective in aerial duels. He also has an aura of calmness on the ball and is excellent at finding his teammates.
With Aymeric Laporte injured early on in the 2020-21 season, Stones was called in as what seemed like a temporary replacement. However, his performances were extremely impressive and he nailed down a regular starting berth.
Partnered with Ruben Dias at the heart of the defense, the pair hardly conceded goals whenever they played together during the season. City boasted the Premier League's best defensive record, which was largely down to Stones' prowess at centre-back.
Stones was also called up for UEFA Euro 2020 and enjoyed a spectacular campaign with the Three Lions. He played the second-highest minutes among all the players in the squad and was a key figure as England kept five clean sheets. He will have a massive role to play next season as City look to defend their Premier League crown.
#1 Ruben Dias - Manchester City
Ruben Dias is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world.
He was signed from Benfica last year for a reported £62 million. With a huge price tag to his name, Dias came with high expectations to perform and transform the Manchester City defense.
Dias burst onto the Premier League with aplomb. Making his debut in October, he went on to make 32 appearances for the Cityzens. The Portuguese was instrumental in City's defensive transformation and ensured City kept 19 clean sheets over the course of the season.
Famed for his "no-nonsense" style of defending, Dias has received praise from fans and pundits alike. He is blessed with a combination of aerial ability and distribution, and is highly appreciated by the rest of the Premier League as well.
Dias won the FWA Footballer of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season for his performances in the 2020-21 season. He was also a key figure in Manchester City's UEFA Champions League run. Although City lost in the final to eventual winners Chelsea, the Portuguese certainly deserves praise for his performances throughout the competition.
With the Premier League kicking off again in just about three weeks, all eyes will be on Ruben Dias as Manchester City look to defend their title.
