Top 5 Premier League defenders for 2020-21

The countdown has slowly started. Premier League 2020/21 season is all set to start from September 12 and the clubs are gearing up for the season. There has been a bit of great business done by few clubs whereas few clubs have struggled t break the deadlock. However, it is the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool that look threatening without any major signings. On the other hand, Manchester United and Chelsea look decent from their previous season squad with new additions. Chelsea has gone all-out in the summer transfer window.

Amongst the list of the players whom the clubs have to buy, there was a time where the club wanted to sign the attackers. Clubs used to break the bank for their strikers and wingers. However, the scenario has changed recently. The clubs are looking to sign the solid defenders who can help the clubs to build from the back and provide the defensive solidity. The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Harry Maguire and Aymeric Laporte have been the prime examples. The pattern is expected to remain the same for a few more seasons according to the rumours in the transfer mill.

Ahead of the Premier League 2020/21, here are the top five defenders in the top flight who can play a big role in the current season:

#5)  Thiago Silva

 

Signed on a free transfer by Frank Lampard and co, Thiago Silva has nothing much to prove. The veteran defender has won most of the trophies and would like to cap off his career with a Premier League trophy too. Before the ball has been kicked off, Thiago Silva easily is one of the top 5 defenders in the Premier League.

Though it might seem that Chelsea could have gone for other players who would help the club in the long-term but signing Thiago Silva can provide a different vibe. It would be very interesting to see how the Brazilian can mould the Chelsea youngster in the 2020/21 season.

#4) Aymeric Laporte

The French international was signed by Pep Guardiola from Atletico Madrid for a reported fee of 65 million euros in the winter transfer window of 2017/18. Though performing at the top-level, Aymeric Laporte has gone under the radar of pundits and has not received the accolades which he should have got.

The highly-rated Aymeric Laporte is one of the top 5 defenders in PL as his absence was strongly felt by Cityzens throughout the 2019/20 season. Manchester City struggled to cope-up with Liverpool and ended up as the first losers. Pep Guardiola will hope that Laporte will be available for the whole season as the manager looks for another Premier League title.

#3) Trent Alexander Arnold

Winner of multiple awards, Trent Alexander Arnold is not only the top 5 defenders present in PL but one of the highly sought defenders in club football across Europe. Trent has played a big role in Liverpool triumphs and no fan of football would forget “Corner taken quickly”.

Though he is not a traditional full-back, TAA has covered up his defensive frailties with his assist and accurate crosses in the top-flight. At just 21, TAA looks threatening and Klopp will hope to keep the PL title at Anfield if he gets the same performances from English full-back.

#2) Harry Maguire

The England international is much in news because of the Greece fiasco but played a big role in Manchester United’s top-four pursuit. Though he is shamed for his lack of pace, his towering presence in the back-line has helped Manchester United a lot compared to that of the 2018/19 season.

Harry Maguire, one of the top 5 defenders in the league, helped Red Devils to keep the third-best defensive record in the top-flight, allowing just 36 goals. He has played every single minute in the top-flight and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will hope a bit better marshalling from Maguire’s side in the upcoming season.

#1) Virgil van Dijk

One of the top 5 defenders in the Premier League, probably the best defender in the league, Jurgen Klopp was the one who changed the complexion concerning defenders. Jurgen Klopp broke the bank in the 2017/18 transfer window to sign the defender from Southampton. He proved to be a pivotal player for Merseysiders.

Under Jurgen Klopp, Virgil van Dijk has grown leaps and bounds. Not only he justified his 75 million pounds price tag, but also he won the trophies like UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and more importantly, he ended the Premier League title drought of Liverpool. Liverpool will expect the same sort of performances once again in the 2020/21 season.