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Top 10 centre-backs in the Premier League 2022-23
Who’s the very best centre-back within the Premier League?
The Premier League will get underway on August fifth this yr.
Manchester Metropolis will head into the competitors seeking to defend their crown but once more.
Nevertheless, Metropolis will face some stiff competitors from Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and probably Chelsea.
Whichever workforce does raise the Premier League this time round will, in fact, want a stable backline.
Man Metropolis received the 2021/22 marketing campaign boasting the very best joint-best defensive file.
And, on the coronary heart of any good backline is at the very least one top-quality central defender. However who’s at present the very best stopper within the English top-flight?
101 check out the ten greatest at present plying their commerce within the Premier League forward of the season getting underway.
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10. James Tarkowski, Everton
A considerably rogue choose however James Tarkowski has crept onto this record attributable to a number of different centre-backs leaving the Premier League in the summertime window.
Regardless, Tarkowski, who has now swapped Burnley for Everton, had a stable 2021/22 during which he was Burnley’s greatest participant.
The stopper additionally blocked essentially the most pictures and made essentially the most clearances within the Premier League final time period.
9. Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace
Marc Guehi has only one season of top-flight soccer beneath his belt. Nevertheless, in that marketing campaign, he showcased that he has all the talents required of a prime, modern-day centre-back.
The Englishman is powerful, quick, agile and wonderful with the ball at his toes. Guehi would additionally rank 13th within the PL for many progressive distance carries, displaying how essential he was to beginning Palace assaults.
Guehi was additionally instrumental in serving to Palace maintain the 7th-best defensive file final time period behind solely the top-four, Wolves and Brighton.
He even earned a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s newest England squad following a powerful 2021/22.
8. Ben White, Arsenal
Barring a horrendous opening few matches of the marketing campaign, Ben White had an excellent debut season at Arsenal.
The centre-back did look fairly weak within the air throughout his first few video games for the Gunners, however while he isn’t the strongest in that space, White actually improved over the course of the marketing campaign.
The Englishman’s predominant energy, although, is his capability on the ball, each in his passing and in his capability to hold the ball from deep.
7. Kurt Zouma, West Ham
Kurt Zouma was one among West Ham’s standout stars throughout 2021/22, although his off-field actions did mar what was marketing campaign.
The Frenchman was instrumental within the Hammers choosing up some big wins over the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea. And when he was out injured halfway by the marketing campaign, West Ham’s type suffered.
6. Thiago Silva, Chelsea
Thiago Silva, who will flip 38 in September, is ageing like a nice wine. The centre-back has misplaced a yard of tempo, however that’s hidden pretty properly in Chelsea’s back-three.
Outdoors of that, Silva has top-of-the-line footballing brains within the division proper now, studying conditions properly to chop out a cross/make a sort out.
And while he might not be the quickest, Silva ranked third within the Premier League for progressive distance carries within the league this season, with two gamers larger on this record the one individuals to hold the ball additional than the Brazilian.
5. Cristian Romero, Tottenham
Tempo, energy, a really aggressive sort out, Cristian Romero is a pleasure to look at and was by far and away Tottenham’s greatest centre-back in 2021/22.
The Argentine’s capability to hold the ball from deep and the arrogance he reveals when stepping out from the again to win the ball could be very spectacular and would result in many Spurs probabilities being created final season.
Top-of-the-line examples of this got here in Might when Tottenham noticed off Leicester Metropolis. Romero stepped out of the line of defense to make two tackles, which led to Dejan Kulusevski receiving the ball after which establishing Heung-min Son.
4. Joel Matip, Liverpool
Like Thiago Silva, Joel Matip solely seems to be getting higher with age.
The African has firmly cemented himself as Virgil van Dijk’s associate regardless of elevated competitors from Ibrahima Konate.
And while Matip does lack the tempo of Konate, his passing capability in the course of the 2021/22 marketing campaign was unmatched.
Matip managed 9 goal-creating actions within the league final season, which was essentially the most of any centre-back within the division and greater than the likes of Jadon Sancho, Jorginho and Jack Grealish.
The stopper additionally ranked second for progressive distance carries with 7547 yards.
3. Aymeric Laporte, Manchester Metropolis
Aymeric Laporte continues to excel as the very best left-footed centre-back within the Premier League.
The Spaniard is nice on the ball, had essentially the most progressive carries of anybody within the top-flight final time period and made numerous high quality tackles and blocks to disclaim goal-scoring probabilities.
Most passes per 90 of centre-backs within the Premier League final season (10+ apps):
1⃣ Aymeric Laporte – 92.7
2⃣ Thiago Silva – 89.0
3⃣ Ruben Dias – 84.9
4⃣ – .— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 8, 2022
2. Ruben Dias, Manchester Metropolis
Dias’ 2021/22 was not fairly as spectacular as his debut marketing campaign in England. Nevertheless, the Portuguese continues to show he is without doubt one of the world’s greatest in his place.
Dias is without doubt one of the calmest, most composed centre-backs on this planet, able to stopping any and all attackers.
He helped Manchester Metropolis maintain the joint-most clear sheets within the Premier League in 2021/22 as properly.
1. Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool
The primary spot, although, does need to go to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.
Although Liverpool did not win the Premier League, they did match Man Metropolis in clear sheets and targets conceded.
And an enormous motive for that was Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman makes defending look easy however it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how he copes with Erling Haaland in 2022/23.
This text was edited by
Ben Browning.
