Players were assessed on a weighted scoring model which considers attacking threat (20% weight), ball playing (40% weight), and defending (40% weight – includes aerial ability), by analysing over 20 different per 90-minute performance metrics.
To improve the accuracy of the results possession adjusted statistics were used for defensive stats – these give a more accurate representation of a players defensive output by accounting for team possession.
To avoid bias towards centre-backs who spend a lot of time on the ball, stats such as progressive passes and carries were adjusted per 100 live-ball touches to provide a truer account of a player’s use of the ball.
A pair of Brighton & Hove Albion defenders have been named amongst the league's shining defensive lights.
You can see where they rank in BetVictor's standings in the gallery below.
17. Cristian Romero
Cristian Romero ranks 17th. The Spurs defender has scored one goal and won 61.8% of his aerial duels. He has also taken 7.26 ball progressing actions per 100 live-ball touches and has been forced into 15.52 possession adjusted defensive actions per 90 minutes this season Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
18. Jan Bednarek
Jan Bednarek ranks 18th. The Southampton defender ranked in the top five centre-backs for possession adjusted interceptions. The Poland international achieved 3.14 per 90 minutes, making him the second-best performing player for this stat Photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
19. Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans ranks 19th. The Northern Irish Leicester City defender has scored one goal and won 71.2% of his aerial duels. He has also taken 3.54 ball progressing actions per 100 live-ball touches and has been forced into 13.13 possession adjusted defensive actions per 90 minutes this season Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images
20. Gabriel Magalhães
Gabriel Magalhães ranks 20th. The 24-year-old Brazilian has scored four goals and won 65% of his aerial duels. He has also taken 7.38 ball progressing actions per 100 live-ball touches and has been forced into 10.43 possession adjusted defensive actions per 90 minutes this season Photo: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images