Chelsea veteran Thiago Silva among Premier League's top tacklers
With the Premier League table starting to take shape, we take a look at some of the top performing tacklers who have played their part in trying to maintain order for their team.
Starting in 10th is Southampton’s Mohammed Salisu. Now while Saints may have the second worst defensive record in the league having conceded 40 goals, Salisu has proven to be a consistent performer for the side having been successful with 50 of his 59 attempted tackles.
Many were skeptical about Lisandro Martinez when he joined the Premier League in the summer, questioning his height in regard to how much of an impact he could make in such a physically demanding league, but the World Cup winner has done more than enough to prove his worth. Of Manchester United players to register 1000+ mins in the Premier League this season, he is ranked sixth best (6.79) and his work at the back has contributed to this, winning 38 of his 44 attempted tackles.
Next in the standings is Declan Rice, who will be one of the most sought-after players this summer. A midfield all-rounder who seems to cover so much ground, Rice is the perfect player for any team, but it is defensively where he comes up trumps. Only Rodri (126) has won possession in the midfield third more times than Rice (119) so far in the Premier League this season, while a tackle success rate of 86.4% is the eighth best in the division.
With a 86.5% tackle success rate, Thiago Silva has used his vast experience to add a level of solidity to the Chelsea backline and while Graham Potter’s attacking players haven’t performed to their best, Silva and co. have got on with their job. The Blues have the third best defensive record in the Premier League (22 goals conceded), with Silva playing a key part.
The second of three midfielders is Thiago. The former Bayern Munich star has been plagued by injuries this season, but that hasn’t stopped him from having an impact in the games he has played a part in. While renowned for his ability on the ball, his tackling expertise should not be underestimated having successfully completed 41 of his 47 tackles in the league this season.
Everton have really struggled for form this season, but one stand-out performer has been summer additon Amadou Onana. The 21-year-old has settled into the Premier League with ease and has been key in making life difficult for opposition attackers, with his work rate seemingly making him a perfect player for Sean Dyche. He has returned a tackle success rate of 87.9% so far, successfully completing 51 of his 58 attempted tackles.
The top four is dominated by full-backs and starting off in fourth is Aston Villa veteran Ashley Young. Completing 88.4% of his tackles, Young has been a regular feature at right-back this season, especially following Unai Emery’s arrival, preventing wingers from having a sight at goal or stopping them from creating chances.
Fulham’s Antonee Robinson is next on the list having completed 31 of his 35 tackles in the league this season and for a player who likes to get forward and hold onto the ball, it goes to underline how much of a jack-of-all-trades full-back Robinson is. That he has such a high tackle success rate while still offering support further up the pitch speaks volumes.
Only two players boast a tackle success rate in excess of 90%, and the first of the pair is Nottingham Forest’s Serge Aurier. The Ivorian has completed 39 of his 43 attempted tackles with a success rate of 90.7% and has been pivotal in helping Steve Cooper’s side to climb out of the relegation zone.
Completing the list with the best tackle success rate (92.5%) in the Premier League is Fulham's Kenny Tete. Having completed 49 of his 53 tackles, Tete not only ranks as the top tackler in the Premier League, but as the sixth best in Europe’s top five leagues. He has been an unsung hero in the Cottagers' extremely positive campaign. Indeed, they come into the weekend six points off the top four, and Tete has been crucial off the ball for Marco Silva’s side.
