The Premier League has always been known for its high level of professionalism, exciting confrontations and bright stars. However, in such a competitive tournament, not all players can show consistent performance, especially in the defender position. Among the thousands of players who have participated, many have left a bad impression when making silly mistakes, shortcomings in defense, or even unsophisticated ball handling, causing harm to the home team. Below, Bestsoccertips shares the worst defenders in the Premier League because of their poor performances in the history of the Premier League.
Top 8 worst defenders in the Premier League
1. Beto (Everton)
Joining Everton with the expectation of replacing Calvert-Lewin, 26-year-old striker Beto was expected to bring attacking power to the team. However, the reality did not go as expected. Despite having the opportunity to play regularly, Beto did not show the impressive performance that fans hoped for. He often missed easy scoring opportunities, which prevented him from proving his worth in an Everton shirt.
The most obvious evidence is that after 29 matches in the Premier League, Beto only had 3 goals and no assists. This number not only disappointed fans but also questioned Beto’s ability to compete in a top tournament like the Premier League. Ineffective performances made it difficult for this striker to maintain the trust of coaches as well as Everton fans.
2. Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton)
Injuries have severely affected the form of Japanese attacking star Kaoru Mitoma this season. Previously, Mitoma stood out with his speedy dribbling and creativity, but now he can no longer maintain those qualities. Instead, this striker plays predictably, lacks breakthroughs and does not show the creativity he used to. These limitations make him no longer a formidable threat in Brighton’s attack.
After 19 matches this season, Kaoru Mitoma has only scored 3 goals and 4 assists, a modest achievement compared to expectations. His decline has also contributed to Brighton’s drop to 10th place in the rankings. These unconvincing performances have put a lot of pressure on the Japanese player, as he has not been able to meet the expectations of fans as well as the coaching staff.
3. Evan Ferguson (Brighton)
The name Evan Ferguson has attracted widespread attention in the summer when a series of top clubs joined the race to recruit a center forward to solve the problem of attack. With the potential to be assessed at over £100 million, Ferguson has become one of the most sought-after talents, and the expectations on him are huge. However, this has also inadvertently created a huge pressure on him, making it difficult for Ferguson to show good form in the Premier League season 2023/24.
In 27 appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion (Seagulls), Evan Ferguson has only scored 6 goals from 33 shots, a number that is not too impressive compared to the initial expectations. In particular, he missed 4 clear scoring opportunities, which further raised questions about his form. Although still a promising talent, Ferguson’s inconsistency and inability to take advantage of opportunities have not helped the Seagulls improve their performance and overcome challenges this season.
4. Kalvin Phillips (West Ham)
Kalvin Phillips, after Manchester City agreed to loan him to West Ham to regain his form, has received many expectations. With the goal of regaining confidence and best form, Phillips was expected to return to his true self, a strong and stable defensive midfielder. However, things did not go as planned. At the London club, Phillips continuously made silly mistakes on the field, preventing him from proving his worth.
Unfortunately, Phillips also received 2 red cards in important matches, seriously affecting West Ham’s performance. These lack of restraint not only reduced his own performance but also made it difficult for the team to maintain stability in matches. With his current form, Phillips has yet to find himself, and this makes his future at West Ham even more uncertain.
5. Moises Caicedo (Chelsea)
The Premier League’s record signing, Moises Caicedo, has had an unsuccessful first season at Chelsea. Although he was expected to join the team and become an important piece in the midfield, the former Brighton star has had difficulty adapting to the style and tempo of the Premier League at The Blues. He has made many serious mistakes, causing the home team to suffer unfortunate defeats.
However, the only bright spot this season is that Moises Caicedo has gradually improved his form recently. Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to pair Caicedo with Conor Gallagher has clearly shown its effectiveness. The two players have had a good combination, helping Chelsea’s midfield become more solid and cohesive. Although there is still much to improve, Caicedo is gradually proving his worth and could become one of the important factors in Chelsea’s squad in the future.
6. Mykhaylo Mudryk (Chelsea)
With just 4 goals and 2 assists in 29 appearances this season, Mykhaylo Mudryk has clearly failed to live up to the expectations that Chelsea and their fans have placed on him. Despite being given more playing time in his second season at Stamford Bridge, the midfielder has yet to show the quality and potential that he showed during his time at Shakhtar Donetsk. Mudryk’s inconsistent performances have prevented him from becoming a key player in Chelsea’s squad.
Despite his impressive pace and dribbling skills, Mudryk has yet to reach his full potential in the Premier League. He lacks the sharpness to create chances and score goals, and has been unable to maintain consistent form throughout matches. This leaves Mudryk’s future at Chelsea in question, as he needs to improve a lot to become an important player in the Blues’ squad.
7. Marcus Rashford (MU)
Marcus Rashford had a turbulent 2023/24 season, although he still scored 7 goals in the Premier League. Among them, one of the notable goals was the goal against Man City, nominated for Goal of the Season. However, this number of 7 goals still cannot meet Rashford’s own expectations, especially when compared to his achievements last season. The 26-year-old player has set higher goals for himself, but his form this season has been inconsistent, which has prevented him from achieving the impressive numbers he wanted.
Despite remaining one of Manchester United’s key attackers, Rashford has not been as sharp and effective as he was in 2022/23, when he had a breakout season. Form issues and inconsistency have affected his performances, preventing him from showing his full potential. Rashford needs to find his best form again to help the team improve results in the following seasons.
8. Jack Grealish (Man City)
Injuries have severely affected Jack Grealish’s season, causing him to miss most of the time for Manchester City this season. Despite being one of the team’s key attacking stars, Grealish has been unable to maintain consistent form due to health issues, which has reduced his ability to contribute to The Citizens. His absence from several key matches has also affected Man City’s attacking play, as Grealish was expected to be a creative link in Pep Guardiola’s squad.
In addition to his club issues, Grealish is also facing the risk of missing out on the England squad for EURO 2024. His inability to play regularly and maintain good form has made his chances of being called up to the national team dim, especially when coach Gareth Southgate has many other options for attacking positions. Grealish will need to recover quickly and prove his form in the rest of the season to ensure his place in Europe’s biggest tournament in the summer of 2024.
Conclusion
Although the Premier League is home to some of the world’s best players, not every defender can reach the top. The worst defenders in the Premier League above are proof that even players with great potential can fail to maintain consistent form. In football, mistakes are inevitable, but for a defender, the ability to maintain solidity and discipline is the most important factor to avoid becoming a nightmare in the eyes of fans.
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