Harry Maguire's stats as good as Virgil van Dijk, study shows

• League's Best Interceptors
• John Stones City's Leader
• Gunners Concern

Harry Maguire has been in the firing line having made two mistakes for England against Germany hot on the heels of being dropped by Manchester United.

But when it comes to the cold facts of analysis, the under-pressure defender is still up there as one of the best players in the Premier League in his position.

Midnite has collected the defensive statistics for all of the centre backs who regularly play for the big six to see whether the numbers back up the opinions - and the results are surprising.

And despite all the criticism the United skipper receives, his stats are almost identical to Virgil van Dijk’s, who is widely regarded as the best centre back in the world.

Van Dijk has helped turn Liverpool into one of the world’s best teams and is the undoubted rock in Jurgen Klopp’s back line, helping the Merseyside club to top flight and Champions League glory.

In his 202 Premier League appearances he has made 206 tackles with a 69% success rate, making 221 interceptions to show his ability to read the game is high.

But in four games more, Maguire has made 254 tackles himself - with an almost identical success rate of 67%.

League's Best Interceptors

Interceptions-wise the United star has is just as impressive, totalling 326 at 1.58 interceptions per game. Van Dijk’s record is 1.59 per game.

The amazing similarities do not stop there - for Van Dijk wins 74% of his aerial duels compared to 72% for Maguire. These equate to the best records of all central defenders in the big six clubs.

And overall, the stats by which clubs rely so heavily on show Maguire is still right up there among the very best, despite the public perception of his displays as he becomes the fall guy for club and country.

John Stones City's Leader

Manchester City’s John Stones boasts a tackle success rate of 72%, but in comparison teammate Aymeric Laporte only wins 50% of his tackles. But Stones is the worst for mistakes leading to goals among the whole of the big clubs.

The data has proven that Kalidou Koulibaly has made a decent start to his Chelsea career - but the standout for the Blues could be in new signing Wesley Fofana who trumps every other player in his ability to spot danger, making 2.18 interceptions per game.

Gunners Concern

But Arsenal’s defensive statistics may represent a cause for concern - with the group of William Saliba, Ben White, Gabriel and Rob Holding among the lowest ranking for tackle success and winning aerial battles.

Eric Dier, who has reclaimed his position in the starting XI, has produced a spectacular 328 tackles in 244 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur. But he is an error-prone defender, with six of his mistakes leading to goals for the opposite team.

A Midnite spokesperson said: “No-one could have guessed that Harry Maguire has produced identical defensive statistics to Virgil van Dijk, who is regarded as the world’s best defender.

“John Stones is the best Manchester City defender, winning 10% more of his tackles to joint-second place, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake.

“William Saliba is another surprising find, maybe his goals in recent games have clouded his defensive performances? The statistics seem to say so.”