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Fan Team of the Season: Centre-backs

22 May 2024
Fan Team of the Season, Centre-backs

You can pick TWO of 10 centre-backs to go into the 2023/24 Premier League Fan Team of the Season

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2023/24 Fan Team of the Season shortlist

We are going through the nominees in each position for the 2023/24 Premier League Fan Team of the Season!

What is Fan Team of the Season?

You can pick a best XI from a shortlist of 60 players who starred across the campaign.

The players who receive the most votes from the public in their respective positions will then go into the 2023/24 Premier League Fan Team of the Season, which will be limited to a maximum of four players per club and will be unveiled on Tuesday 28 May.

Centre-backs

You have until Monday 27 May to select TWO of 10 centre-backs.

Choose your 2023/24 Fan Team of the Season

Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace)
P38 W13 D10 L15 G2 A3 CS8

The Danish centre-back was ever-present for Palace this season, starting every match of the campaign. Though he has played in different centre-back partnerships in 2023/24, Andersen has always impressed and took his game to another level under head coach Oliver Glasner.

Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)
P35 W12 D9 L14 G3 A0 CS12

Though he only made 10 appearances in the league prior to the 2023/24 season, the 21-year-old was a mainstay in Everton's defence this campaign. He featured 35 times, kept 12 clean sheets and scored three goals, with one of his strikes coming in a 2-0 win over local rivals Liverpool, Everton's first home win in the fixture since 2010.

Gabriel (Arsenal)
P36 W27 D4 L5 G4 A0 CS15

Gabriel produced dominant displays this season as forwards rarely got the better of Arsenal's Brazilian. In addition to keeping 15 clean sheets, he was a major contributor to the Gunners' threat from set-pieces, scoring four times in 2023/24.

Murillo (Nott'm Forest)
P32 W7 D8 L17 G0 A2 CS3

Nottingham Forest's 21-year-old became a fan favourite in his first season with the club, producing impressive defensive displays and showing superb composure throughout the campaign as the club staved off relegation.

William Saliba (Arsenal)
P38 W28 D5 L5 G2 A1 CS18

The Frenchman's availability this season was a crucial part of Arsenal's title challenge as he played in every league match of 2023/24. Saliba's calming presence at the back was vital in the run-in, with the Gunners losing only one match in 2024 against Aston Villa.

Fabian Schar (Newcastle)
P36 W17 D5 L14 G4 A1 CS8

Newcastle United's Swiss centre-back once again showed why he is such a vital figure for his side, playing all but two matches in the campaign. In addition to his 36 appearances, Schar carried a significant goal threat, scoring four times and assisting once.

James Tarkowski (Everton)
P38 W13 D9 L16 G1 A1 CS13

Though Everton endured difficult moments during the season, Tarkowski marshalled their defence superbly, starting every match of the campaign and playing a key role during the run-in. He also produced a match-winning display against Brentford in September, scoring and assisting in a 3-1 win at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Micky van de Ven (Spurs)
P27 W15 D5 L7 G3 A0 CS5

Tottenham Hotspur's summer signing from Wolfsburg was a revelation for the north London club as the Dutchman stunned the league with his incredible speed and superb defending. Against Brentford on 31 January, Van de Ven reached a top speed of 37.38 km/h, a record in the Premier League since the data started being collected in 2020/21.

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
P36 W22 D10 L4 G2 A2 CS9

Liverpool's captain was back to his best in 2023/24 as he commanded their defence superbly despite injuries to key first-team players Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate. Van Dijk played in 36 of the Reds' 38 league matches, scored twice and kept nine clean sheets in their attempt to win the title in Jurgen Klopp's final season at the club.

Illia Zabarnyi (AFC Bournemouth) 
P37 W12 D9
L16 G1 A0 CS8

Bournemouth's Ukrainian centre-back enjoyed a superb campaign under Andoni Iraola. Zabarnyi started all but one match in 2023/24 and his sole goal came in the Cherries' incredible 4-3 turnaround win against Luton Town.

Choose your 2023/24 Fan Team of the Season

Next: Central midfielders

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