Ask any young Premier League fan who his or her favourite player is and they’ll almost certainly pick a striker: Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, or Erling Haaland. Or maybe they’ll pick a wing wizard such as Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Martinelli, or Jack Harrison.
But the guys who, week in week out, stop these megastars in their tracks and put them on their backsides will rarely get a mention.
But this SBOTOP writer was a centre-back. Not to any great standard though, but as a result I have a long held admiration for the men who stand at the heart of the defence.
They can block goal-bound efforts, put in the last ditch tackles, dominate the area when a cross comes in, and launch attacks. Some of them even get a handful of goals a season, though I can’t speak from experience.
They may not produce the most sparkling Premier League 2023 highlights, but these boys are the rocks in defence and they ensure that when a goal comes, invariably it is from a great piece of skill.
So I’m in my element here, writing about the best three centre-backs in the league. And in the spirit of the genre, none of them are from Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea (in my opinion of course).
Sven Botman: Newcastle United
Newcastle have the tightest defence in the league, conceding just 13 goals in 22 games and goalkeeper Nick Pope is forging ahead in the race for the Golden Gloves with 12 clean sheets, three more than any other keeper.
But clean sheets belong to the back five and, in front of Pope, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has assembled a fine group of defenders.
Experienced right wing-back Kieran Trippier has produced more crosses than anyone this season and the towering Dan Burn is an uncompromising figure on the left or in the centre, commanding in the air.
Swiss centre-back Fabian Schar has been at the club since 2018, and this year he has been joined by the Dutch master Sven Botman following his £37-M switch from Ligue 1 club Lille. Still only 23, Botman has plenty of time to develop but he has settled into the toughest league in Europe impressively, making 20 appearances so far.
He is one of the best left-footed defenders in the league and is yet to taste defeat, so Botman is a crucial fixture in the team.
The latest SBOTOP Premier League 2023 betting odds rate the Magpies as fourth favourites for the title and a Champions League place is very much on the cards. With the best defence in the league, they have every chance.
James Tarkowski: Everton
With 46 blocks, Tarkowski is by far the strongest protector of his keeper in the league with former Burnley mate Ben Mee second on 28.
His keeper Jordan Pickford has only kept four clean sheets, but that has little to do with Tarkowski’s efforts, without which the Toffees may be searching for their first.
He teamed up with Conor Coady in the summer and it’s something of a mystery why this pair is in a team which has struggled so much.
Everton’s midfield and attack have been woeful at times and that puts more pressure on the defence. Without Tarkowski, the Toffees might already be sunk.
Reunited with his old Clarets boss Sean Dyche, the big centre-back scored Everton’s winner over Arsenal last week and he hit the post with a towering header in the Merseyside derby on Monday. Liverpool broke away and scored, so if Tarkowski’s effort had gone in, it could have been a very different story.
Ethan Pinnock: Brentford
Brentford’s centre-back pairing is as good as it comes. While Mee has made some goal-saving blocks this season, his partner Ethan Pinnock has made the most clearances and headed clearances of any player in the league.
The Jamaican international joined the Bees in 2019 and played 40 games in his first campaign as Thomas Frank’s side missed out in the Championship play-offs. But they were promoted in 2021 and have been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League.
Frank has avoided second season syndrome and linking Mee up with Pinnock was a masterstroke. The Bees faced league leaders Arsenal last week and Pinnock had one of his busiest afternoons of the campaign so far, as the Gunners had 70-per cent possession and 23 shots.
The Jamaican defender was imperious in the air as Brentford won 71-per cent of the aerial duels and kept the Bees in the game long enough for Ivan Toney to grab the equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
Brentford are riding high in eighth place and Pinnock is having the season of his life.
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