Top 10 worst defenders in the Premier League: Unforgettable mistakes
The Premier League is not only famous for its excellent attacking players but also for its talented defenders and central defenders. However, in such a harsh tournament, not everyone can fully demonstrate their abilities. Especially in the defender position, where any mistake can cost the team dearly. Even though they are players with good physical strength and good technique, when they lack stability and decisiveness, they become the target of criticism. In this article, Kingsoccertips.com will list the 10 worst defenders in the Premier League, with unconvincing performances and unforgivable mistakes.
Top 10 worst defenders in the Premier League
1. Phil Jones (Manchester United) – Worst defenders in the Premier League
Phil Jones joined Manchester United from Blackburn Rovers in 2011, and from the beginning, he was expected to be a talented central defender with excellent defensive qualities. However, throughout his career at Old Trafford, Jones has never really lived up to expectations. He often makes unacceptable mistakes, especially in simple situations such as judging high balls or the offside trap. His clumsy and sometimes thoughtless tackles have made him a big disappointment to Manchester United fans.
In addition to not being able to maintain a stable form, constant injuries have also seriously affected Jones’ career. Although he sometimes has impressive performances, serious mistakes in important matches have always made him associated with the image of an uncertain defender in the Premier League. In recent years, Jones’ career has almost stagnated, causing him to receive a lot of criticism from experts and fans.
2. David Luiz (Chelsea, Arsenal) – Worst defenders in the Premier League
David Luiz is one of the most controversial players in the Premier League. Despite his impressive attacking ability and beautiful free-kicks, Luiz is often at fault in defence. He is known for his silly plays and puzzling defensive decisions. During his time at Chelsea and then Arsenal, Luiz was often the focus of criticism after the goals he directly caused. His missed marking, silly fouls in the penalty area and unnecessary shifting of position have made him the most criticised defender.
In addition, Luiz’s lack of consistency has also prevented him from becoming a reliable mainstay. Luiz’s brilliant performances have been overshadowed by his clumsy plays and poor decisions in important situations. Although he has won many major trophies in his career, there is no denying that Luiz is one of the worst defenders the Premier League has ever seen.
3. John Stones (Manchester City) – Worst defenders in the Premier League
John Stones is a talented centre-back, but his first years at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola were not easy for him. Despite his technical ability and ability to play the ball well, Stones lacked consistency in defence. He made a number of silly mistakes, especially in 1vs1 defensive situations or when the opposition counterattacked quickly. Stones was often caught off guard and easily let opponents get past him in decisive moments. His poor handling of the ball and indecisiveness made him the subject of criticism.
Although he has developed into a mainstay for Manchester City in recent seasons, his inconsistent form in his early years in the Premier League still puts Stones on the list of the worst defenders. His silly plays and lack of concentration were the main factors that prevented him from gaining much recognition from Premier League fans.
4. Yerry Mina (Everton)
Yerry Mina joined Everton in the hope of improving the team’s defense, but soon after his move, he disappointed fans with his defensive mistakes. Despite his impressive height and good physique, Mina lacked finesse in defensive situations. He could not maintain his solidity and easily let the opposing strikers pass him. In particular, Mina often made mistakes in reading situations, leading to unnecessary goals. His lack of flexibility and poor coordination with his teammates were the reasons why Mina could not win the trust of Everton fans.
In addition, Mina’s constant injuries prevented him from playing consistently throughout the seasons. Sometimes he could play well, but his silly mistakes in important matches made Mina considered one of the weakest defenders in the Premier League.
5. Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal)
Gabriel Paulista joined Arsenal from Villarreal in 2015, but from the first seasons, he could not meet the expectations of the team. Although he had basic defensive skills, Gabriel lacked stability in defense. He often made mistakes in aerial situations and in marking. These mistakes led to many silly goals for Arsenal. Gabriel is not a defender with good defensive organization, and that made him the target of criticism after each match.
In addition, Gabriel lacked concentration in handling the ball. He often made wrong decisions in important situations, especially when the opposing team attacked quickly. Despite having good matches, Gabriel could not maintain stable performance, and this made him unpopular at Arsenal.
6. Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
Andreas Christensen was once expected to become one of Chelsea’s best centre-backs after joining the club from the academy. However, throughout his career at Stamford Bridge, Christensen has disappointed fans many times. He often made mistakes in marking situations, allowing opponents to get past him on the counter-attack. Despite being loaned out and playing well at some smaller clubs, Christensen has still not been able to show his ability at Chelsea.
Christensen’s weakness is his lack of decisiveness in defence. He sometimes tends to hesitate in decisive situations, causing his team to pay the price. His inconsistent performances have been the reason why Christensen has been criticized over the years.
7. Mangala Eliaquim (Manchester City)
Mangala Eliaquim joined Manchester City in 2014 for a high transfer fee, which made him a target for heavy criticism from fans. However, instead of becoming a solid pillar of the defense, Mangala’s career in the Premier League was associated with serious mistakes and consecutive failures. Despite possessing an ideal physique, outstanding speed and strength, these qualities were not enough for Mangala to assert himself in the fiercely competitive environment of the Premier League. With poor ability to read situations and defend one-on-one, he often let opposing strikers pass him easily.
Mangala’s lack of sophistication in handling the ball is one of the factors that made him a target of heavy criticism. Despite his strong physique, his lack of concentration and ability to judge situations caused him to make unnecessary mistakes. Inaccurate headers, clumsy marking and unnecessary fouls all cost his team dearly. These mistakes not only affected Mangala but also hurt Manchester City, leading to him being regarded as one of the worst defenders in the Premier League during his time there.
8. Kurt Zouma (Chelsea, West Ham United)
Kurt Zouma is a physically strong and athletic centre-back who has impressed in some games with his good defending and his determination in the challenge. However, despite his physical attributes, he lacks the consistency needed to become a Premier League-class defender. Zouma often struggles to mark, especially when faced with quick or technical strikers. He tends to let opponents get past him in one-on-one situations, which has led to unnecessary goals for his team on several occasions.
Furthermore, Zouma is not a good reader of the game, which causes him problems in tactical defending. His lack of concentration and inaccuracy in handling the ball sometimes leads to him getting caught in situations that are out of control, leaving space for the opposition to attack. Although Zouma can play well in some matches, his repeated mistakes in important situations have prevented him from developing into a reliable defender in the Premier League, and as such, he has become one of the more disappointing names in the defense.
9. Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham Hotspur)
Davinson Sanchez joined Tottenham from Ajax with the expectation that he would become a key centre-back and shoulder the team’s defensive responsibilities. However, his Premier League career has been filled with serious mistakes and shortcomings in important situations. Sanchez is often clumsy, especially when dealing with easy situations. He often makes bad decisions, from not being able to keep up with his opponents to losing concentration in the air. These mistakes not only cost Tottenham, but also made him a target for criticism from fans.
One of the factors that prevented Sanchez from becoming a world-class centre-back was his lack of consistency. Although he sometimes performed impressively, his ability to maintain concentration and determination in defence was a major weakness. This led to him making unforgivable mistakes in important matches, especially when facing strong and tricky strikers. Sanchez lacked the ability to read the game and handle the ball properly in tense situations, which prevented him from developing into a true defensive pillar at Tottenham.
10. Joleon Lescott (Everton, Manchester City)
Joleon Lescott has had a long and successful career in the Premier League, winning major trophies with Manchester City. However, Lescott’s career has not always been smooth sailing. Although he has played well in many matches, he has often made mistakes in important moments. His lack of precision and sometimes poor decisions in defensive situations have made him the target of criticism in many matches. Despite his individual and team achievements, Lescott has not been able to demonstrate the consistency needed to maintain his place in the first team.
Lescott’s ability to read the game has also been a factor in his failure to become a top defender in Premier League history. Poor handling of the ball, losing his position or missing out on marking in crucial situations have prevented him from maintaining a consistent form throughout his career. Lescott has always had impressive performances, but his lack of consistency has kept him from becoming a true Premier League legend. Instead of becoming an icon of the league, he is remembered as a potential centre-back who lacked the consistency and stability to stay at the top.
Conclusion
The Premier League is a place where attacking players shine, but it is also a place where defenders face great challenges. Although players like Phil Jones, David Luiz and Mangala have had their moments of glory, they have failed to maintain the stability and decisiveness needed in defence. Silly mistakes and lack of concentration in important situations make them unforgettable names in the list of the worst defenders in the Premier League.
Post Related
