Who are the top five Premier League CBs?

[Klopper76]

There's been some discussion about Van Dijk over the last day or so with Neville comparing him to Jaap Staam (too many a's).

So who would you currently pick as your top five defenders in the league? Full-backs who play as the third CB in a back three are fine.

I'll go for (in no particular order):

Alderweireld
Vertonghen
Van Dijk
Bailly (I rate him very highly)
Azpilicueta

 

[vadimivich]

I think Lascalles is excellent, probably in the top 5 for me.

Vertonghen and Van Dijk are the only two "locks", imo. The rest is a grab bag.

 

[B20]

Vertonghen and Van Dijk are the only two "locks", imo. The rest is a grab bag.

How I see it too.

 

[RedSky]

How I see it too.

Same. Although I think Azpilicueta is brilliant.

 

[Albert@13]

I think Lascalles is excellent, probably in the top 5 for me.

Vertonghen and Van Dijk are the only two "locks", imo. The rest is a grab bag.

I would second Lascelles. If Newcastle stay up or do well, he is likely to be one of the main in my opinion. I think him besides VVD at Liverpool would be immense (of course), but I can't imagine Newcastle selling him without Rafa walking. Genuinely flying under the radar in the Premier League. I predict he winds up a Chelsea sooner rather than later.

 

[Scroto Baggins]

Alderweireld and Bailly spent too much time on the bench recently due to injury for me to pick them.

VVD
Vertonghen
-------
a gap
-------
Tarkowski
Azpi

A lot of names you can throw in after that, Maguire, Mee, Tomkins, etc etc

 

[Don Alfredo]

Van Dijk
Vertonghen
Azpi
Maguire

Toby ?

 

[harms]

I'll go for (in no particular order):

Alderweireld
Vertonghen
Van Dijk
Bailly (I rate him very highly)
Azpilicueta

Yeah, probably this. A few can take Bailly's place but I like it as it is

 

[Klopper76]

It says a lot about how the quality of CB's in the league has dropped when you try and list a top five from 10 years ago.

Terry
Ferdinand
Vidic
Carragher/Hyypia maybe?
Carvalho

 

[Bastian]

I agree with the OP list. Would expect Laporte to join that group this season.

 

[ravi2]

Vvd seems to be on everyone's list, it's a shame we made no effort to acquire him

 

[adexkola]

What is Liverpool’s record (goals conceded) since Van Dijk came on?

Vertoghen, Toby, Cesar, Bailly, Otamendi, Smalling, Van Dijk, Stones, Maguire, Tarkowski. In no particular order.

Edit: Confused Cesar with Christensen.

 

[Fergietime@99]

Vertonghen
Alderweireld
Bailly
Vvd
Kompany (when fit)

I have not included Azpilicueta as he can only play in a 3 man defence and is better as a FB

 

[RobinLFC]

I rate Walker higher as a RB playing CB than I do Azpilicueta, actually.

In five years time, Sanchez, Stones, Laporte, Christensen et al should be the main names in this discussion, I'd expect.

 

[Giant Midget]

Bailly
Smalling
Jones
Rojo
Lindelof

 

[Bwuk]

Van Dijk, Azpilicueta, Alderweireld, Vertonghen and fully fit Kompany in no particular order.

 

[AgentP]

In no particular order, my top 5 would be

Van Dijk
Vertonghen
Alderweireld
Kompany
Maguire

 

[Inter Yer Nan]

1. Alderweireld
2. Vertonghen
3. Azpilicueta (he's probably my favorite defender in England currently)
4. Van Dijk
5. Bailly

I think the top 4 are quite comfortably ahead of Bailly and could almost be put in any order. Toby IMO is the best but his situation has been a weird one.

 

[Claude Cat]

What is Liverpool’s record (goals conceded) since Van Dijk came on?

10 goals in 16 games since his PL debut vs Swansea in January

 

[StillPlayingFooty]

I like Davinson Sanchez a lot. Very mobile and low key great. Like Varane has been before he exploded on the scene last 6 months or so...

VVD is elegant but sometimes I question his positioning. He very much keeps his position by the text book ( does not leave his spot even when no oppo is near him) but sometimes I would like him to cover up/help his def partners as he leaves them to battle alone in 1 vs 1. Also would be nice of he were a bit closer his def partner to bounce on the loose ball if his partner tackles it loose/or attacker can't control it properly.

Bailly is very athletic and makes good last ditch blocks and tackles. Dunno of that os good or bad in a defender that he has to resort to desperate measures. Similar to Lovren in that sense.

Vertonghen seems to be very neat and efficient in his defending. Doesn't have ups or downs in form IMO.

 

[SambaBoy]

As has been mentioned, Toby and Vertonghen are the two certs. Vertonghen is definitely number 1 and is underrated. I'd have VVD and Rudiger in there as well.

5th pick would be Maguire possibly. Bailly has a shout but needs to stay fit, and he could easily get in the top 3.

 

[vadimivich]

I like Davinson Sanchez a lot. Very mobile and low key great. Like Varane has been before he exploded on the scene last 6 months or so...

Sanchez is a fantastic talent. Still has a few kinks to iron out (he's better on the ball than probably any CB in the league, but off the ball can still get out of position and lost a bit) but I think he and Laporte will be in this list next year.

 

[B20]

If I had to pick, in no particular order

VVD
Vertonghen
Alderweireld
Rudiger
Kompany

I don't really see Azpilicueta as a centerback.

 

[Gio]

I rate Walker higher as a RB playing CB than I do Azpilicueta, actually.

In five years time, Sanchez, Stones, Laporte, Christensen et al should be the main names in this discussion, I'd expect.

His space covering is fantastic but at the World Cup he looked ropey whenever he had to defend threats coming from both sides.

 

[MUFC OK]

VVD 5 times, la.

 

[Liver_bird]

Virgil Van Dijk
Cesar Azpilicueta
Jans Vertonghen
Toby Alderweireld
Nicolas Otamendi

 

[PvsNP]

VVD
Vertonghen
Azpilicueta
Alderweireld
Bailly

 

[jungledrums]

Virgil Van Dijk
Cesar Azpilicueta
Jans Vertonghen
Toby Alderweireld
Nicolas Otamendi

Otamendi is shite! I’d replace him with a fully fit Kompany (if such a thing exists).

 

[Damien]

I rate Walker higher as a RB playing CB than I do Azpilicueta, actually.

In five years time, Sanchez, Stones, Laporte, Christensen et al should be the main names in this discussion, I'd expect.

Maybe. At the moment he can't get in the Chelsea side ahead of Luiz.

 

[sajeev]

All flavors of the season, no one really good

 

[izec]

Vertonghen
Azpilicueta
Van Dijk
Alderweireld
Maguire

 

[SpyLuke10]

Bailly, Azpilicueta, Maguire, Alderweireld and Vertonghen. Theres one other player I didn't mention who plays for Liverpool, feck him, I don't feel like putting him here.

When Bailly played last season we hardly conceded a goal, let alone any good scoring opportunities.

 

[SpyLuke10]

All flavors of the season, no one really good

I feel that at some point, someone really good will emerge. Right now however I feel as though most would say the last really good centre back in the premier league was Kompany, although I personally feel that Azpilicueta was an absolute mile better than every other defender in the league in 2017.

 

[adexkola]

10 goals in 16 games since his PL debut vs Swansea in January

Cheers.

Otamendi is shite! I’d replace him with a fully fit Kompany (if such a thing exists).

On the shortlist for the best defender in the league last season. No coincidence City finished with the best defensive record.

 

[Oga on top.]

If I had to pick, in no particular order

VVD
Vertonghen
Alderweireld
Rudiger
Kompany

I don't really see Azpilicueta as a centerback.

Kudos on the Rudiger shit. He'll be immense for the chavs this season.

 

[duffer]

Tip 5? Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Ampadu and Luiz.

Special mention to Cahill.

 

[freeurmind]

Alderweireld
Laporte
Tarkowski
Lascelles
Bailly

I think Alderweireld is the only truly WC CB in the league atm. Strange how Sanchez keeps starting over him at Spurs. I'm not the big VVD fan many seem to be, though that may be because of who he plays for. I think John Stones and Nathan Ake have a chance to be great as well.

 

[NinjaFletch]

Bailly, Azpilicueta, Maguire, Alderweireld and Vertonghen. Theres one other player I didn't mention who plays for Liverpool, feck him, I don't feel like putting him here.

When Bailly played last season we hardly conceded a goal, let alone any good scoring opportunities.

He hardly played and was dropped by the end of the season because he was incredibly shaky when he came back from his injury.

 

[Amar__]

Bailly is seriously overrated on this forum. I don't think he had period of half season where he was our best defender, let alone league's best.

 

[freeurmind]

Bailly is seriously overrated on this forum. I don't think he had period of half season where he was our best defender, let alone league's best.

Which of our CBs would you have over him?