Power Ranking the Top 25 EPL Defenders so Far This Season
With eight Premier League games under the belt for every team in the Premier League, now seems a good time to try and work out who the top defenders have been in the division so far this season.
Ahead of a crucial weekend of fixtures, some of the Premier League's finest defenders will be looking to preserve their place amongst an elite list when they take to the field this season. Some, however, will be high-profile absentees.
Here, Bleacher Report takes a look at the best 25 defenders in the league.
Rankings are weighted on club position, individual performance stats in association with the brilliant guys at Squawka, as well as team performances.
Think we've missed anyone out? Or just plain disagree? Get involved with the comments below.
25. Luke Shaw (Southampton)
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Luke Shaw is certainly making a name for himself this season.
He's been a consistent part of the meanest defence in the Premier League this season. Of eight games the Saints have played, Shaw has played in six of them.
A measure of how well Southampton's defence have done in the league is that only five defenders have played a part.
Shaw is third in the average defensive actions list amongst his fellow Saints, too.
Now an England Under-21 regular, the future does indeed look bright for Shaw.
24. Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
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Whilst it's not been the most vintage start to the season for Manchester United, their captain is still dominant where it counts.
Vidic is United's top-performing defender so far this season, with a decent score in Squawka's performance rating system.
Whilst United have struggled to win games, it could have been far worse had Vidic not been in the side. He's played six games, and has averaged a resounding 14 defensive actions a game.
If Vidic can stay in the side and stay fit, United will surely turn things around soon.
23. Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa)
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Like Vidic is at Manchester United, Ron Vlaar is Aston Villa's imposing centre-half.
He's also Villa's best performer this season, if you go along with the guys at Squawka. He's way in front of any of his fellow teammates in Paul Lambert's side, who look to be making strides forward after a relegation battle last season.
With a pass accuracy of 84 percent, Vlaar is also reliable on the ball when it counts.
22. Gary Cahill (Chelsea)
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Despite playing a regular part for England throughout qualification for the World Cup, Cahill has been somewhat of a intermittent part to life under Jose Mourinho in the Premier League.
Four appearances from eight games does not make for the sweetest of reading for Cahill, but when he has been in the side, he has made an impact.
He's well known to Premier League fans nowadays, and can boast some serious medals in his collection since joining Chelsea.
With a high degree of performance level every time he steps to the field, Cahill can more than hold his own on this list.
21. Michael Dawson (Tottenham)
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As leaders go amongst Premier League clubs, Michael Dawson has been one of the best so far this season.
In fact, if he keeps this form up, England recognition may well be on the radar once more. Dawson has played in every game in the league for Spurs, and leads the way in a variety of areas.
One of those is defensive actions. Nobody gets close to Dawson in terms of defending, and he averages 10 defensive actions a game.
With Tottenham conceding just five goals in eight games, Dawson has certainly been one of the most influential players in the Spurs side in 2013/14.
20. Steven Caulker (Cardiff)
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In the clear light of day, including a defender who is part of a side that sit 17th in the Premier League may seem bizarre.
However, if Steven Caulker wouldn't be in the Cardiff City side, things could be a lot worse.
Their big-money signing has made an instant impact since arriving from Tottenham. He's their top performer if you believe the stats, and has a huge presence as captain of the side.
Moving to Wales could be the new lease of life Caulker's career was starting to need. Chances were clearly limited at Tottenham, and an opportunity to flex his muscles in a new environment seems to be paying dividends.
19. Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)
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This year is a big one for Kyle Walker, both at domestic and international level.
In terms of England, he faces a season-long battle with Liverpool's Glen Johnson to wear No. 2 for the country at the World Cup.
And Tottenham will be expected to challenge on all fronts as they strengthen again under Andre Villas-Boas.
Walker will play a big part of that, and he has put in a strong start to the season. He's played in every game, and is outperforming all of his other defenders so far in 2013/14.
If he can keep it up, he may find himself in that starting spot at right-back come Brazil next year.
18. Curtis Davies (Hull)
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Of the three teams promoted into the Premier League, Hull City are the team who seem to have taken to life easier than the rest.
They've more than held their own in the opening eight games of the season, and they have a solid centre-half to thank for contributing to that.
No defender in the entire division averages more defensive actions a game than Curtis Davies. Not only is he a busy defender, he's an active one, too.
With Tottenham Hotspur next up on Sunday, Davies will have to continue that form if Hull are to get a result.
17. Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)
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With Arsenal challenging at the right end of the division, much has been made of the attacking power they possess this season.
Mesut Ozil was the big-money signing Arsenal fans craved, whilst Aaron Ramsey looks to be just one player who has come of age amongst the Gunners ranks.
Don't forget the defence in a hurry, though. Laurent Koscielny has played in seven of Arsenal's eight league games, and has been a real presence as the Gunners have charged their way to the top of the league.
Back in France's national team too, Koscielny's improvement is marked looking back at last season.
16. Jonas Olsson (West Bromwich Albion)
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West Bromwich Albion are now unbeaten in their last five games in the Premier League, and Jonas Olsson has been a thorn in attacking outfits' sides all season.
He's an ever-present in Albion's side, and he's also their best player according to Squawka's performance ratings.
It is in the air where Olsson looks so impressive, though. He's won an astonishing 25 out of his 30 aerial duels this season so far, making Albion a hard team to beat both at home and away.
With just six goals conceded in eight games, Olsson is a worthy candidate for this list.
15. Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea)
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With Jose Mourinho chopping and changing his side in order to find a formula for success, Ivanovic has remained a constant in the Premier League.
He's played in every single league encounter for the men from Stamford Bridge, and has more than played a part in the form which sees Chelsea sitting in second place in the table.
He's won four Squawka awards already this season. Only Frank Lampard has more.
Ivanovic has gone from bit-part player to a true constant in a Chelsea side that consistently challenges for honours.
He is a player Mourinho will not want to lose to injury or suspension.
14. Bacary Sagna (Arsenal)
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His contract expires at the end of the season, leading to speculation he could be about to end his stay at the Emirates.
Bacary Sagna doesn't seem to be letting the dilemma over a new deal bother him though. He's delivered some tremendous performances for the Gunners so far this season and he has played a key role in Arsenal's early success.
Whilst not the most attacking full-back in the division, Sagna is incredibly solid at the back, and brings a real steel to any back four he plays in.
13. Seamus Coleman (Everton)
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Spending £50,000 doesn't get you much in football these days.
It got Everton Seamus Coleman though, and since arriving from Sligo Rovers, Coleman seems to have gotten better and better.
This season he has hit even newer heights, and looks like one of the Premier League's finest attacking full-backs at this moment in time.
Providing a great partner for fellow full-back Leighton Baines, Coleman has enjoyed a tremendous start to the season alongside the likes of Baines and Sylvain Distin.
12. Glen Johnson (Liverpool)
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Glen Johnson is locked in battle with Kyle Walker for England's right-back berth, as mentioned earlier in this list.
With Liverpool conceding just seven goals in eight league encounters so far this season. And, despite Johnson playing in just four of those, he has stood out whenever he is on the field.
Squawka have him ranked as the best defender at the club at this moment in time, and if he can regain full fitness and get a run in the side, the battle with Walker for England duties will be well and truly on.
11. Chico (Swansea)
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Underneath Michael Laudrup's superb Swansea side, there are defenders that epitomize their passion and spirit.
Chico is one of those defenders. And, he just misses out on the top 10 despite a great start to 2013/14. Having played in every single one of Swansea's games, Chico is one of Swansea's finest players all over the park.
He also fits nicely into Laudrup's passing Swansea style. His passing accuracy is at 89 percent, which would be enough to see him top most teams lists. Despite the likes of Leon Britton being ahead of him in the list, Chico is Swansea's best defender in that aspect.
With the Swans now making their mark on Europe, Laudrup's men could once again be making the headlines for the right reasons.
10. Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)
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He may have only played four games in the Premier League this season, but Manchester City's Vincent Kompany remains one of their most influential players.
When he has been on the field, City look a lot more composed with their captain's presence amongst them.
City's ethos of playing football from the back is further enhanced when Kompany is on the field, too. With a pass accuracy of 94 percent, he stands above the rest of his teammates when it comes to passing a ball, with only Javi Garcia on the same amount.
The sooner City can get Kompany back on the field, the better.
9. Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
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If Manchester City are to retain their Premier League crown this season, Pablo Zabaleta will play a big part in that.
With the intermittent appearances of Vincent Kompany in the side, Zabaleta has stepped up to the plate and become one of City's most important players. No defender is performing better in Manuel Pellegrini's side, according to Squawka.
He's only missed one game so far for City in 2013/14, and if he keeps up this level of performance, a World Cup with Argentina is highly likely, too.
8. Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham)
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Part of the Belgium side that qualified for the World Cup with relative ease last month, Jan Vertonghen has again been impressing for Tottenham this season.
With the amount of midfield talent in their ranks, Spurs are naturally expected to be amongst the leading pack for the Premier League title.
Vertonghen plays a huge part in that. He has appeared in every game for Spurs this campaign, and is consistently amongst the side's better performers.
With six defensive actions a game on average, Vertonghen is also a defender who is not afraid to get stuck in.
7. Sylvain Distin (Everton)
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As towering defenders go in the Premier League, Sylvain Distin is up there with the best.
Under Roberto Martinez, he's been part of an Everton defence that have only lost one game all season. He's been the busiest member of that defence too.
Having played in all eight games so far this season, he averages 12 defensive actions a game. That is a lot.
One key to Everton's early season success has been consistency amongst the ranks. If they can keep a regular back four throughout the course of the season, then Martinez's men may surprise a few people.
6. Jose Fonte (Southampton)
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With the best defence in the entire division, it was natural that Southampton would have plenty of contenders on the list.
He's been an ever-present in the Saints side so far this season, and he is without doubt one of the defenders of the season so far.
Only Artur Boruc and Dejan Lovren score more than the ultra-consistent Fonte in Squawka's performance ratings amongst the Southampton squad.
What is even more impressive is that Fonte has yet to make a single defensive error this season.
With trips to Old Trafford and Anfield already in the bag, that is no mean feat.
5. Per Mertesacker (Arsenal)
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If one defender on this represents a much-improved performer, then Per Mertesacker is without doubt the one.
After a slow, difficult start to his Arsenal career in which he was ridiculed in some quarters, the German international has come of age in 2013/14.
With his club at the top of the league, he has struck up a terrific partnership with Laurent Koscielny at the heart of the back four.
Squawka's performance score ratings have Mertesacker as Arsenal's best performing defender this season. In fact, only Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud score higher.
Not bad if you're outscoring Mesut Ozil.
4. Phil Jagielka (Everton)
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He recently helped England qualify for the World Cup next year, and Phil Jagielka is impressing early on with Everton.
The Toffees captain has put some remarkable performances in from the heart of Everton's defence so far this season, and the stats back it up.
He's won an impressive 66 percent of all his duels against his opponents so far in the league, and his 11 defensive actions per game stand him up against the very best in the division.
Jagielka has now matured into one of the most consistent defenders in the division, as well as England's first-choice centre-half alongside Gary Cahill.
3. John Terry (Chelsea)
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The former England captain and Jose Mourinho have rekindled their relationship this season like it never ended.
With Terry reinstated as the rock of Chelsea's defence in the league, things have improved for them. Squawka's performance score system has him as Chelsea's player of the season so far. And you'd be hard-pushed to argue.
Terry has appeared in all of Chelsea's league outings so far this season, a great effort considering how much he was in and out of the side under Rafael Benitez.
No nonsense, aerially magnificent and robust as ever, Terry is still one of the Premier League's finest defenders on show.
What a shame he isn't available for England duty next summer.
2. Dejan Lovren (Southampton)
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Going into this weekend, they boast the meanest defence in the entire Premier League. And Dejan Lovren has more than played his part in that.
Southampton are riding high in the league, and their 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last weekend was no fluke, make no mistake about it.
Eyebrows were raised when Mauricio Pochettino brought him to the club for big money from Lyon, but he has more than started to pay that fee back.
He's an incredibly busy defender—he averages 10 defensive actions a game, which is a ridiculously high amount. As well as that, he's also got the ability to pop up with a goal, as was proven against the champions.
1. Leighton Baines (Everton)
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Subject of much transfer speculation in the summer, Leighton Baines has done exactly what has been required of him for Roberto Martinez's Everton so far this season.
Not only a brilliant full-back, he attacks with aggression and skill too, making him a suitable contender to be top of the rankings. He's created 11 chances for his side already this season, a pretty impressive turnaround for a defender.
He also excelled in an England shirt, in the absence of Ashley Cole. That has convinced a lot of people that Baines should be the one who gets the No. 3 shirt at the World Cup next year.
Not only that, but he has a superb set-piece in his locker. No matter how well Everton do in the league this season, the big move for Baines is surely around the corner.
