Who were the best defenders last season? Koscielny, Skrtel and more

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Arsenal, Cardiff City, Crystal Palace, Hull City and Liverpool stars all feature.

The defenders are arguably the most important players in any side because they prevent the opposition from scoring, form the spine of any side and create the platform for important wins to be achieved.

With the season over, there is plenty of debate among fans over back fours with Chelsea fans confused by Ashley Cole’s World Cup snub while Liverpool supporters will be annoyed by the leakiness of their own back four.

We’ve taken a look at five important areas for defenders to judge who the best players were last season.

Outfield Blocks

Cardiff’s Steven Caulker made more outfield blocks than anyone else. That suggests his positioning in his own defence was superb throughout the season. It’s no wonder Tottenham reportedly want to buy him back.

Tackles Won

The Premier League’s most successful tackler was Joel Ward of Crystal Palace. Pablo Zabaleta also deserves a mention because of his consistency as Manchester City hung on to win the Premier League title.

Effective Clearances

Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel was the best when it came to no nonsense, basic defending. When Liverpool needed to clear their lines he responded by booting the ball into row z and easing the pressure.

Aerial Duels Won

Curtis Davies was the hardest defender to get the better of when it came to aerial challenges. Caulker and Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross appear on another list inside this feature, a sign of their solid consistency.

Interceptions

Davies was also superb in terms of the number of interceptions he made, showing a great ability to read the game. It’s also worth noting that Laurent Koscielny’s effectiveness in this area also played a part in him getting a new Arsenal contract.