Goalscorers take most of the credit when a football club is successful. The front three of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, and Mo Salah immediately springs to mind. The dynamic trio led Liverpool to their sixth Champions League title last season. However, players like Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip also played a monumental role.
Today, we want to pay tribute to some of the Premier League’s best defenders. They often go under the radar when the headlines are written, but they are pivotal to their team’s success. New football betting operators, fans, and pundits alike recognize the following players as some of the best around.
Aymeric Laporte – The French centre-back has been faultless since joining Man City from Athletic Bilbao in 2018. The Citizen’s number 14 was the cornerstone of their title-winning side last season. Laporte is strong in the air, but he can pick a pass too.
Sadly, he picked up a severe knee injury in the opening weeks of the season. For that reason, it looks like he’ll spend most of the 19/20 campaign on the sidelines. However, we still believe that he’s one of the best defenders around.
Virgil van Dijk – We’re running out of superlatives for Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman has transformed Liverpool’s defence over the last two years. What’s more, he put in several match-winning performances as the Reds lifted their sixth Champions League title last season.
On top of that, he has some of the most impressive stats in world football. Attacking players must dread the thought of facing him. We’re expecting Virgil to be Liverpool’s next captain. His ability to influence his teammates both on and off the pitch is a joy to watch. Many pundits and analysts compare him to a Rolls-Royce. We agree.
Andy Robertson – This man could turn out to be the biggest bargain in Premier League history. Liverpool purchased Roberston from Hull for a mere £8 million in 2017. It took the left-back a few months to find his feet, but when he got his opportunity, he seized it with both hands.
The Scotsman is renowned for his high-intensity attitude and incredible runs up and down the left-wing. It’s hard to believe that Robertson was playing for an amateur club six years ago. Now he has a Champions League winners medal. This is a testament to just how far he has come in the last few years.
Harry Maguire – Man Utd finally got their hands on one of the world’s most talented centre-backs when they bought Maguire from Leicester. The 26-year-old’s transfer fee was excessive, but we believe that he’s worth every single penny. He’s proved his worth time and time again both domestically in the Premier League and internationally for England.
It’s too soon to judge Maguire’s United career. He hasn’t had enough time to settle in. However, he’s made a decent start. We’ve already seen some of the desire that made him one of England’s most sought after defenders. We can’t wait to watch him grow as a player at Old Trafford over the next few years.
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