'Supercomputer' ranks Southampton duo among league's best defenders

Mohammed Salisu (13th) and Jan Bednarek (18th) were named above the likes of Manchester United’s Harry Maguire (16th) and Arsenal’s Gabriel (20th) respectively.

Both players rank in the top five across the league for their effectiveness in interceptions. Salisu managed 2.89 per 90 whilst Bednarik achieved 3.14 – the second-best value for this weighted and calculated stat.

Only relegated sides Norwich (75) and Watford (70), and Leeds United (74), have conceded more goals than the 61 shipped by Saints so far this season, with Liverpool and Leicester City still to play.

Each player’s statistical profile was ranked by a weighted scoring model which considers output across three categories: attacking threat, ball playing, and defending (includes aerial ability). Each category was carefully built to factor in the most important performance stats required by a modern-day centre-back, with over 20 different metrics analysed per player.

Saints defender Mohammed Salisu (Pic: PA)

The algorithm uses a combination of per 90-minute performance stats, possession adjusted stats (PAdj), and live-ball touch adjusted stats. The purpose of this is to rate a player’s statistical profile without being bias towards players in teams that spend more time in attack or defence.

For example, Norwich’s Grant Hanley has more interceptions per 90 than Virgil van Dijk, but this does not necessarily mean he is a better interceptor of the ball as Norwich spend more time defending than Liverpool meaning greater opportunity for Hanley to intercept.

Centre-backs with limited game time were omitted from the study to improve data accuracy. A total Z-score per player was generated for each category (attacking threat, ball playing, and defending) using a weighted scoring model which takes into account the importance of each stat.

A second weighted scoring model was then used to generate an overall Z-score for each player across the three categories.

Aymeric Laporte, Joel Matip, Thiago Silva and former Saint Virgil van Dijk were named as the Premier League’s most effective centre-backs in the study.

What do you think of these findings?

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