Revealed: The Premier League's 10 best tacklers - and you might be in for a shock
Number one on the list was expected to leave his club in the summer but has enjoyed a renaissance in the early weeks of the season
The best tackler in the
Premier League so far this season is
Lucas Leiva , according to new statistics.
Liverpool's midfielder has won more tackles than any other player, and out of the division's top 10 tacklers, only Cedric Soares of Southampton has a better success rate when it comes to winning the ball back for his team.
Soares has a tackle-winning percentage of a staggering 97.3%, winning 36 tackles and losing just one since the start of the season.
However, he is far behind Lucas when it comes to the amount of tackles he's won, with Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder winning 54 tackles - 18 more than Soares.
It's a huge U-turn in fortunes for the 28-year-old, who appeared to be staring the Anfield exit door in the face prior to the start of the season.
Lucas has won nine more tackles than his nearest challenger, Manchester City's Fernandinho.
Fernandinho, also Brazilian, has won 45 tackles so far this term, but has lost 19 - eight more than countryman Lucas.
An unlikely player to feature on the list is Crystal Palace maestro Yohan Cabaye.
The Frenchman is renowned more for his influence going forward but statistics show he isn't afraid to track back.
He's played in all of the Eagles' matches so far this season, winning an average of 3.7 tackles per 90 minutes and 39 in total.
The Premier League's top 10 tacklers
[xtable]
{tbody}
{tr}
{td}
Team{/td}
{td}
Player{/td}
{td}
Apps{/td}
{td}
Mins played{/td}
{td}
Tackles won{/td}
{td}
Tackles lost{/td}
{td}
Tackles won %{/td}
{td}
Tackles won per 90 mins{/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}Liverpool{/td}
{td}
Lucas Leiva{/td}
{td}9{/td}
{td}765{/td}
{td}54{/td}
{td}11{/td}
{td}83.08%{/td}
{td}6.4{/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}Manchester City{/td}
{td}
Fernandinho{/td}
{td}11{/td}
{td}969{/td}
{td}45{/td}
{td}19{/td}
{td}70.31%{/td}
{td}4.2{/td}
{/tr}
{tr=@x25}
{td}Stoke City{/td}
{td}
Eric Pieters{/td}
{td}11{/td}
{td}945{/td}
{td}44{/td}
{td}18{/td}
{td}70.97%{/td}
{td}4.2{/td}
{/tr}
{tr=@x25}
{td}Leicester City{/td}
{td}
N'Golo Kante{/td}
{td}11{/td}
{td}700{/td}
{td}44{/td}
{td}18{/td}
{td}70.97%{/td}
{td}5.7{/td}
{/tr}
{tr=@x25}
{td}Bournemouth{/td}
{td}
Simon Francis{/td}
{td}11{/td}
{td}990{/td}
{td}40{/td}
{td}14{/td}
{td}74.07%{/td}
{td}3.6{/td}
{/tr}
{tr=@x25}
{td}Sunderland{/td}
{td}
Billy Jones{/td}
{td}11{/td}
{td}954{/td}
{td}40{/td}
{td}12{/td}
{td}76.92%{/td}
{td}3.8{/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}Crystal Palace{/td}
{td}
Yohan Cabaye{/td}
{td}11{/td}
{td}938{/td}
{td}39{/td}
{td}20{/td}
{td}66.1%{/td}
{td}3.7{/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}Newcastle United{/td}
{td}
Chancel Mbemba{/td}
{td}11{/td}
{td}990{/td}
{td}39{/td}
{td}10{/td}
{td}79.59%{/td}
{td}3.5{/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}Norwich City{/td}
{td}
Robbie Brady{/td}
{td}11{/td}
{td}990{/td}
{td}38{/td}
{td}17{/td}
{td}69.09%{/td}
{td}3.5{/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}Southampton{/td}
{td}
Cedric Soares{/td}
{td}10{/td}
{td}792{/td}
{td}36{/td}
{td}1{/td}
{td}97.3%{/td}
{td}4.1{/td}
{/tr}
{/tbody}
[/xtable]
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/revealed-premier-leagues-10-best-6752780
