Just 12 games in and already the 2023/24 Premier League season is shaping up to be another cracker. The title challengers are emerging and pulling ahead atop the league, with those possibly facing relegation already keeping a wary eye over their shoulders.
Much of the attention has been hogged by those at the top end of the field, with Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland and Son Heung-min in particular taking the plaudits. But what about the defenders keeping them out at the other end?
In the season’s third international break, we can now take a moment to look at the top five defenders.
Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
One young centre-back who Chelsea and England will have high hopes for is Levi Colwill. Quality left-footed central defenders are weighted in gold, and Colwill has proved his versatility for Chelsea by playing at centre-back and left-back this season.
The Englishman, 20, had started every Premier League game so far this season under Mauricio Pochettino before missing Chelsea’s end to end 4-4 draw with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge last Sunday through injury. Undoubtedly, Colwill was a big miss for Pochettino as Chelsea conceded four against the treble winners.
Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Ruben Dias has been a stalwart in Pep Guardiola’s Man City side over recent seasons. He played a pivotal role in City’s treble success last term and has started the 2023/24 campaign in fantastic form.
The Portuguese, 26, has been crucial in helping to build up play from the back, which has often seen him advance into midfield positions to provide a greater creative influence going forward. However, he was at fault for two goals in City’s riveting 4-4 Premier League draw with Chelsea last weekend. Guardiola will hope Dias returns after the international break stronger.
Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Kyle Walker’s future at the Etihad Stadium had been in question after links with a move to Bayern Munich surfaced during the last transfer window. However, he put them to bed by extending his contract with Man City until 2026.
The England international, 33, has been a mainstay at the back again, as well as going forward, with the full-back proving his worth by helping the Sky Blues dominate sequences of play and periods of possession. That, combined with his energy, leadership skills and galloping runs make Walker indispensable to City’s system under Guardiola.
Micky van de Ven (Tottenham)
Summer signing Micky van de Ven has been one of the primary reasons for Tottenham’s excellent start to the 2023/24 season. Due to his height, the Dutchman provides a real physical presence at the heart of a backline which he’s proven time and again this season. In addition, the 22-year-old’s pace and agility has made it difficult for forwards to get past him, thus, allowing Spurs to play a high line under new boss Ange Postecoglou.
However, Spurs suffered a huge blow earlier this month when Van de Ven was forced off with a serious thigh injury against Chelsea. Their unbeaten start to the Premier League season came to an end in the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea before Wolves beat them 2-1 in stoppage time at Molineux last weekend—all during the absence of Van de Ven.
William Saliba (Arsenal)
William Saliba has quickly become one of the English top-flight’s best defenders, and his lack of involvement in the final stretch of last campaign due to a back injury proved to be a critical factor in Arsenal’s eventual surrender of the title to Man City. But he has come back fitter and stronger, helping the Gunners enjoy a strong 2023/24 campaign start.
Saliba, 22, has helped Arsenal keep five clean sheets in 12 Premier League games so far. The Frenchman is richly deserving of a place on this list. He is vital to Arsenal’s system, comfortable at playing the ball out from the back and often starting off attacks. The 22-year-old is also a major threat in the box at both defending and attacking set pieces, as recently witnessed in Arsenal’s 3-1 home win over Burnley.
