Defending can be an art that is often underrated by the general football fan.
However, it is becoming more and more important as the years go on with the quality of attackers getting better season on season, especially in the Premier League.
Newcastle and Manchester City boast the best defensive records in the top flight this season, having conceded 32 times from their 37 matches to date. Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the spectrum, Leeds possess the leakiest back-line, with a whopping 74 goals conceded.
Take a look at Mirror Football's end-of-season power rankings for those men who have impressed the most at the back and have had the biggest effect on their team.
10. Tyrone Mings
Since Unai Emery has taken over at Aston Villa, Tyrone Mings has been outstanding alongside Ezri Konsa at the heart of their back-line. The centre-back has been a mainstay in a Villa side that have kept eight clean sheets in their last 18 matches as the Villains march towards the European places.
Mings has also been a threat in the opposition box. He scored his first goal of the season in their recent 1-0 win over Fulham and has also provided two assists. Villa have been excellent at set-pieces under Emery, with Mings a key threat with his height and aerial process.
9. Lewis Dunk
Having received an England recall on Wednesday, Lewis Dunk is richly deserving of a place on this list. The 31-year-old has been impressive under Roberto De Zerbi and is vital to Brighton's system. Dunk is excellent at playing the ball out from the back and often starts off attacks.
In fact, Dunk has completed the most passes in the Premier League this season (3202). He is ahead of second-place Rodri, as well as Virgil van Djik, Gabriel and Pierre-Emile Hoijberg, who make up the top five. Dunk, like Mings, is also a major threat in the box at both defending and attacking set pieces.
8. Trent Alexander-Arnold
Although Trent Alexander-Arnold hasn't quite been at his best for the whole season, you cannot forget what he has done since the World Cup. He has been exceptional, especially in the last two months as Liverpool recorded an impressive seven-game winning run prior to the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa.
Alexander-Arnold only has eight assists to his name this season, but has made Liverpool a much stronger outfit in recent weeks due to his calmness in possession and ability to drop into midfield. Jurgen Klopp has allowed him more freedom in his new role and that has been a key development in the Reds recovering their season to finish fifth.
7. Pervis Estupinan
Another Brighton defender to make the list, Pervis Estupinan has enjoyed a marvellous debut campaign since arriving from Villarreal last summer. Estupinan has been vital to Brighton's success this season, flourishing on the left-hand side while often acting as another winger at times.
He scored his first Brighton goal in the 3-0 win over Arsenal last week and has featured in all but three of their Premier League games this term. Estupinan is also very capable defensively and kept Riyad Mahrez very quiet on Wednesday as Brighton secured Europa League football.
6. Ruben Dias
Pep Guardiola has been incredible at rotating his team and keeping his best players fresh this season to compete in the three major club competitions. They are on course to win their first ever Treble and Ruben Dias is the man that has been crucial to their excellent defensive output.
Dias has made just 26 Premier League appearances this term but he makes City a stronger unit when he is playing. Alongside John Stones, who was unfortunate to miss out on the list, Dias has helped catapult City to their third successive title - and he has been involved in every one of them.
5. Lisandro Martinez
When Lisandro Martinez arrived to Manchester United from Ajax last summer, a lot of fans had doubts. Jamie Carragher was unsure whether he would adapt to the Premier League due to his height, while others were concerned about his lack of physicality and strength.
However, it is safe to say the Argentinian has proved those doubters wrong. He has been instrumental to United's success under Erik ten Hag this season, forming a destructive partnership with Raphael Varane in central defence. The Red Devils have also kept the most clean sheets so far this season.
4. Sven Botman
Newcastle have arguably been the Premier League's surprise package this season. Many thought the Magpies would improve on last term's 11th-place finish, but to reach the Champions League is an incredible achievement.
As mentioned before, their defensive record is the joint-best in the Premier League and it's that which has helped propel them into the top four. Sven Botman, who joined from Lille last summer, has been excellent in defence and has made them a better outfit both in and out of possession.
3. Luke Shaw
After being dropped for Tyrell Malacia at the start of the season, it is safe to say Shaw has bounced back and proved Ten Hag wrong. He has been nothing short of sensational, especially since the World Cup break, and has been vital for United in their Champions League push.
Whether it has been at left-back or in the centre of the four-man defence, Shaw has done a job wherever he has played and has been one of United's most important players this season. Before Varane's return to fitness, Shaw had been playing as a centre-back alongside Victor Lindelof - and impressing in that role.
2. William Saliba
It feels a little bit odd to only have one Arsenal defender on this list, but the Gunners' defensive record isn't actually that great. They have conceded 11 more goals than both Man City and Newcastle, while even Chelsea have a better defensive return so far this season.
However, the Gunners have been particularly weak in defence since Saliba's injury in March. He was sensational for the Gunners before he picked up the issue in the Europa League tie against Sporting and was a rock at the back for Mikel Arteta's side.
1. Kieran Trippier
Moving on to number one on the list and Kieran Trippier is the man that takes that honour after excelling in the Newcastle side this season. Both going forward and defensively, Trippier has been pivotal to a side that has the joint-best defensive record and his numbers do that justice.
Trippier has averaged two tackles, one interception and two clearances per game so far this season. He has also chipped in with one goal and seven assists - proving his worth in an attacking sense. A deserved number one.
