The 2022/23 Premier League season is at the one month stage, so HITC Sport have taken a look at the best defenders in the first six games – including Joao Palhinha and Tyler Adams.
Arsenal came through the opening month of the campaign at the top of the table by taking 15 of a potential 18 points. Manchester United dealt the Gunners their only loss so far, but Erik ten Hag only has his Old Trafford outfit in fifth-place – behind Brighton & Hove Albion.
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Defending champions Manchester City in second and third-placed Tottenham Hotspur are the only remaining unbeaten sides. While Wolverhampton Wanderers, Spurs and Brighton have the best defensive records, after conceding four (Wolves) and five goals respectively.
In contrast, newly-promoted AFC Bournemouth have produced the porous backline having allowed 18 goals so far. Leicester City (16) and Nottingham Forest (14) have also struggled to keep opponents out, as they fight at the wrong end of the table on one and four points.
So, with Premier League clubs one month into the 2022/23 season, HITC Sport have looked at who the best and most active defenders have been through the opening six matches…
Palhinha emerges as Premier League’s most active defender after Fulham move
Palhinha has emerged as the Premier League’s most active defensive player in the 2022/23 season so far. The 27-year-old has attempted a total of 41 tackles over his six appearances, per WhoScored, since the midfielder joined Fulham from Sporting Lisbon for £20m in July.
His efforts to win the ball in the centre of the park eclipse those of Adams at Leeds United. The Whites’ £20m transfer from RB Leipzig in July has attempted 37 tackles, ahead of Neco Williams with Nottingham Forest and Ruben Neves for Wolves – with both attempting 36.
Brighton star Alexis Mac Allister has attempted 32 tackles to rank as the fifth-most active, ahead of Leeds’ Pascal Struijk (31), Boubacar Kamara (30) of Aston Villa, Everton’s Nathan Patterson (29), Joelinton (26) of Newcastle United and Bournemouth’s Adam Smith (24).
Palhinha productivity returns Premier League’s best return of successful tackles
Palhinha’s productivity in the engine room has returned the Portuguese with the Premier League’s largest tally of successful tackles so far. He has won possession with 30 of his 41 attempted tackles, to edge Adams for the top-spot again – with the American winning 28.
Wales right-back Williams has won the ball 27 times, as the third-best defensive player in the Premier League for tackles won. Whilst Scotland right-back Patterson shoots up from eighth for tackles attempted to rank in fourth for tackles won, with the Everton ace on 25.
Neves has been dribbled past 11 times, having won possession with 25 of his 36 attempted tackles so far. While as Kenny Tete has been dribbled past once, the Fulham right-back sits in sixth for tackles won with 22 from 23 attempts – an almost perfect record in six outings.
Struijk ranks seventh in the Premier League through the opening month as one of the best tacklers on 21 won. Mac Allister follows for Brighton on 20 from his six games under now-Chelsea boss Graham Potter, above Kamara (19) and West Ham United’s Declan Rice (18).
Mee proving to be a Brentford bargain as Premier League’s best for interceptions
Ben Mee is proving to be a bargain for Brentford after leaving Burnley for the west London club as a free agent in July. The 32-year-old is the Premier League’s best defensive player over the opening month for interceptions, having stepped in to win possession 14 times.
His efforts match those of Fabian Schar at St James’ Park, with the Swiss star intercepting play 14 times over five games – one less than Mee – with Newcastle. Fulham centre-back Tim Ream and West Ham right-back Vladimir Coufal have intercepted play 13 times so far.
Diego Llorente ranks fifth for interceptions over the opening month of the 2022/23 season with 12 – level with James Tarkowski and Jonny Evans. Rice, Eric Dier, Matty Cash, Moises Caicedo, Williams, Struijk, Neves, Thiago Silva and Vitalii Mykolenko have 11 interceptions.
Andersen taking no risks to keep Crystal Palace out of danger
Joachim Andersen is taking no risks in his efforts to keep Crystal Palace out of danger this season. The 26-year-old has recorded the most clearances by a margin with 59 through his six outings, ahead of Bournemouth’s Chris Mepham (42) and West Ham’s Kurt Zouma (37).
Tarkowski is similarly taking no risks at Everton after moving to Merseyside as a free agent after leaving Burnley in June, with the 29-year-old registering 33 clearances. Wolves’ Max Kilman has 32 ahead of his former Molineux mate Conor Coady (30) – on loan to Everton.
Ream has also registered 30 clearances after returning to the Premier League with Fulham as Championship champions. Lisandro Martinez has 28 after joining Manchester United for £56.5m from Ajax, above Tosin Adarabioyo (26), plus Armel Bella-Kotchap and Schar (25).
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