Want to know who the best five defenders in the English top flight are at present? Well not to worry as we reveal their identity here using statistics provided by www.whoscored.com ….
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5) Curtis Davies (Hull City): 7.37 average Premier League rating this season
The former England Under-21 international has been an absolute rock at the back so far this season for the newly promoted Tigers, so it is absolutely no surprise at all to see his name in this top five.
The 28-year-old was brought to the KC stadium by manager Steve Bruce from Championship outfit Birmingham City in June 2013 for a fee of just £2.25m, and that has proved to be an absolute bargain as far as the north-east side are concerned.
And so far the centre back has appeared in a total of 25 Premier League games for his new team, finding the back of the net just once in the process.
4) Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United): 7.39
One of the Magpies’ more consistent and reliable performers at St James’ Park so far this campaign, where the France international’s constant raids down the right flank have been a constant source of attacking balls into the box for Alan Pardew’s side.
The 28-year-old has played in 23 Premier League contests for the north-east giants to date, during which time the right back has managed to contribute an impressive one goal and three assists to the Geordies’ cause along the way.
3) Dejan Lovren (Southampton): 7.41
What an accomplished and fine campaign at the heart of the high flying Saints back four the Czech Republic international is currently enjoying, so much so that it is no great shock to see the centre back’s name appearing in this list.
The 24-year-old has been part of a miserly defence all season long at St Mary’s, with Lovren having taken part in 20 Premier League matches so far for the south coast club, netting twice in the process, while also creating an assist too, making his £8.5m capture from Ligue 1 giants Olympique Lyonnais last summer looking more and more like an absolute steal by the day.
2) Seamus Coleman (Everton): 7.42
The 25-year-old attacking right back has taken his game on to a higher level under new Toffees head coach Roberto Martinez so far in this campaign, as reflected in the Republic of Ireland’s present ranking as the second best defender in the Premier League on current form.
Coleman has managed to register a hugely impressive five goals and one assist in total for the Merseyside giants in his 23 Premier League contests to date, with the full back’s eye-catching form at Goodison having even now drawn the attentions of Premier League champions Manchester United if recent reports in the English press are to be believed.
1) Martin Skrtel (Liverpool): 7.51
And to just think that Reds manager Brendan Rodgers even dropped the shaven-headed Slovakia international from his starting lineup this time last year, with the central defender then coming desperately close to departing Anfield last summer after falling out with the Northern Irishman.
However, the pair have since made up, with the 29-year-old responding in the best possible way to his first-team demotion last year by going on to prove hinself to be not only the Merseysiders’ best defender so far this season, but also the Premier League’s too with a series of dominant displays at the back for Liverpool.