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#2 Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City)
Were it not for the recent loss of form by the Cityzens, it would have been a close tie between the Frenchman and Liverpool's Virgil Van Dijk. Such has been Laporte's excellence this season that alongside Ederson, he has played the most minutes for Pep Guardiola's team.
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A left-footed centre-back whose babyish mien hides a fiercely competitive streak, the 24-year-old has hardly put a foot wrong so far. The team's new defensive leader, he has been excellent at passing out of the back to initiate attacks and counter-attacks. He has also shown the full range of his defensive abilities.
Laporte has averaged 1.2 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game. These are the statistics of a man who has shown versatility in staying back to defend and getting forward.
His partners; Vincent Kompany, John Stones, and Nicolas Otamendi have struggled for fitness and form this season. The yet-to-be capped Frenchman who joined last season for £57m from Athletic Bilbao will be crucial to City's attempts to overtake Liverpool.
