Right-back: Victor Moses
A year ago, no one would have imagined Victor Moses winning a Premier League medal. Since his move to Chelsea from Wigan Athletic, his career had been constantly spiraling down. After spending a solitary season at Stamford Bridge, the Nigerian was considered surplus and was shipped out to various clubs on loan each season. And not many would have expected the winger to play for the Blues again.
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However, like Chelsea, Moses too experienced a renaissance after Antonio Conte came in. With the Italian mastermind preferring to involve wing-backs in his starting eleven, the Nigerian international was offered a more defensive role than he has ever played. The rest, as they say, is history.
Moses made 34 appearances and scored three goals as Chelsea would go on to lose only three games in which he was involved – showing how important he was to the team. The pace winger added discipline to his game and won 81 percent of his tackles a Premier Lague winner’s medal.
Centre-Back: Ben Gibson
Middlesbrough had a torrid season on their return to first division football as they finished 19th, only four points above 20th placed Sunderland. While they were decent in defence, their main struggles were in the opposition half of the pitch. Middlesbrough scored only 27 goals in all of their matches – lowest for any team in the Premier League this season.
Boro had a defensive approach under Aitor Karanka and one player pivotal to their performance was central defender Ben Gibson. While most of his teammates were struggling to live up to the challenges of the Premier League, Gibson played like a seasoned veteran. The 24-year-old was the only player for the Teesiders to play in all league matches.
The young defender’s performance though didn’t go unnoticed and he was soon rewarded for his performances as he earned a maiden call-up to the national side in the absence of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.
Gibson might have to ply his trade in the Championship next season, but a move back to the top flight shouldn’t surprise anyone.
Centre-Back: Ben Mee
Burnley had one of the most stubborn defences this season and the Clarets put in some spirited performances (especially at home) to maintain their top flight status. Their watertight defence meant that they had the highest number of blocks and clearances in the league this season. Burnley finished just two places above the relegation zone. While they struggled to score goals, their defence has to be credited for keeping them in the Premier League.
While Burnley skipper Tom Heaton and young centre-back Michael Keane took away all the plaudits, it was Ben Mee who surprised everyone.
The Manchester City youth product has been a permanent fixture in the Burnley starting eleven for the last couple of seasons now. For a player converting from left back to centre back, his performances were admirable and surpassed all expectations. The 27-year-old recorded the highest number of blocks and second highest number of clearances this season. With Burnley looking to survive another season in the top flight, Mee’s contribution will be important to Sean Dyche’s team.
Left Back – James Milner
Milner signed for Liverpool after his contract at Man City came to an end at the end of 2014/15 season. Considered as good acquisition mainly due to his versatility and the fact that the team lacked experience since the departure of Steven Gerrard, few would have expected him to star as a defender.
He, however, had a hot and cold season at Anfield, to begin with at the heart of the midfield. However, with the arrival of Jurgen Klopp and his brand of “Heavy Metal” football, the England international had to vacate his favoured position at the centre of the park.
Used as a left back this season, the English international impressed everyone with his defensive capabilities. Apart from his new found proficiency in discipline, Milner contributed in 10 of his team’s goals and converted all seven of his penalties, which shows how reliable the veteran is.
The vice-captain of the current Liverpool squad, Milner has surely made an impression on Klopp and should hold onto his position for one more year.
