Which Dream Team defenders provide the most attacking threat?

DREAM TEAM managers should ensure at least one of their defenders provides a certain degree of threat going forward.

Clean sheets are important but comparatively rare and so gaffers should make use of individuals who also chip in with their fair share of goal involvements.

At the time of writing, just eight players have reached double figures for clean sheets in Dream Team this season.

Whereas 21 players have notched at least ten goals with two standout stars, Erling Haaland (£7.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£8m), on 20+ in all competitions.

Defenders who have multiple avenues to points are worth their weight in gold.

With that in mind, let’s analyse which individuals have provided the greatest attacking threat from the back so far this season.

MOST GOALS AMONG DEFENDERS THIS SEASON:

• 5 – Gabriel
• 5 – Josko Gvardiol
• 4 – Toisin Adarabioyo
• 4 – Rayan Ait-Nouri
• 4 – Fabian Schar
• 4 – James Justin

Arsenal’s Brazilian centre-back is a top-tier defender because not only is he ranked joint-fourth for clean sheets, he doubles up as a potent threat from set pieces.

The Gunners have honed their corner routine to devastating effect this season and Gabriel is generally the primary target, hence his handy return of five goals to date.

Manchester City have struggled in defence this season but Gvardiol remains a top ten defender in terms of total points because he persistently takes up advanced positions from left-back.

The Croatia international has banked 152 points while only one other City defender (Rico Lewis) has more than 81 to his name.

MOST SHOTS ON TARGET AMONG DEFENDERS THIS SEASON:

• 13 – Pedro Porro
• 11 – Josko Gvardiol
• 11 – Daniel Munoz
• 9 – Trent Alexander-Arnold
• 9 – Rayan Ait-Nouri
• 9 – James Justin

Tottenham’s right-back is encouraged to influence play in the final third by Ange Postecoglou and he’s certainly not shy when it comes to testing the opposition goalkeeper.

Some Spurs fans might say Porro is overly shot-happy but from a Dream Team perspective, his unwavering desire to contribute in attack is a huge plus.

The Spaniard has registered just six clean sheets in 2024/25, fewer than Ashley Young (£2.9m) and Tino Livramento (£2.8m), but he’s currently second among defenders overall with 171 points to his name, such is the value of his offensive play – he’s also a bonus point magnet.

Crystal Palace’s Munoz averages a mightily impressive 6.2 points-per-game this season – the third highest rate among players in his position.

The Colombian wing-back gets through mountains of defensive work – only Noussair Mazraoui (£2.7m) has made more tackles – but his role in the Eagles’ set-up means he often occupies shooting areas.

MOST ASSISTS AMONG DEFENDERS THIS SEASON:

• 9 – Antonee Robinson
• 8 – Trent Alexander-Arnold
• 8 – Pedro Porro
• 5 – Rayan Ait-Nouri
• 5 – Nathan Collins
• 5 – Lewis Hall

Fulham’s left-back leads the way in this metric; a hugely impressive feat without additional European fixtures to bolster his schedule.

The USA international also comes out on top for bonus points (29) in his position.

Robinson deserves plenty of praise but he’ll have to produce something special to keep Liverpool’s No66 at bay in the final third of the campaign…

MOST BIG CHANCES CREATED AMONG DEFENDERS THIS SEASON:

• 15 – Trent Alexander-Arnold
• 13 – Lucas Digne
• 10 – Leif Davis
• 8 – Tyrick Mitchell
• 7 – Andy Robertson
• 7 – Kostas Tsimikas
• 7 – Yukinari Sugawara

Alexander-Arnold has long rubbed shoulders with Dream Team’s best playmakers in the creative department and so it’s no surprise to see him leading the way here.

He remains Liverpool’s best passer and crosser of a ball in Liverpool’s ranks.

Robinson’s absence from his list suggests he’s been rather fortunate to amass nine assists – his team-mates have been clinical from his service.

Aston Villa should have made more of Digne’s service this season and the Frenchman’s backers probably deserve a flurry of assists at some point in the coming months.

Ipswich’s forward-thinking left-back produced a shed-load of assists in the Championship and he’s doing his best to carve out opportunities in the top flight but the Tractor Boys’ defensive vulnerabilities means Davis isn’t truly a viable option for Dream Team bosses.

MOST GOAL INVOLVEMENTS (GOALS + ASSISTS) AMONG DEFENDERS THIS SEASON:

• 10 – Trent Alexander-Arnold
• 10 – Pedro Porro
• 9 – Antonee Robinson
• 9 – Rayan Ait-Nouri
• 7 – Gabriel
• 7 – Nathan Collins

Ait-Nouri features in all but one of the above lists but much like Davis, his attacking contributions are negated by his team’s broader problems in defence.

It would be interesting to see what the 23-year-old could do as a regular starter for one of the league’s stronger teams.

Combining goals and assists probably gives the fairest reflection of attacking threat as Alexander-Arnold and Porro have been the standout defenders in this regard, hence why they are ranked first and second in the position for total points right now.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk