Premier League End of Season Leaders: Interceptions

So far in these end-of-season statistic leader reports, we have looked at the leaders for goals and the leaders for saves. Today, we are looking at the leaders for interceptions.

Being able to accurately read a pass and make an interception is a strong skill for a defensive player to possess. A lot of the time, it can directly lead to a counter-attack, and sometimes even a goal.

These 11 players finished in the top 10 for most interceptions this season in the Premier League. Let's take a look at who they are:

 

Declan Rice (West Ham) – 95 

Declan Rice shares the top spot, and it is no surprise that he does to be honest. In what was a very strong campaign for West Ham, Rice was one of their standout performers, as he has been for the last few years.

He obviously led the team in this statistic, but he also led in tackles (77), and tackles won (53), and was second for successful pressures (154), and blocks (60).

The good news for West Ham fans is that the chances of Rice not being in a Hammers shirt next season is very low, as the club has essentially priced any team out of signing him.

 

Jan Bednarek (Southampton) – 95 

Southampton's season was not one to remember, except for that short period at the start of the new year when they actually looked good. The rest was terrible.

Jan Bednarek is a very hit-or-miss defender. He can have a very good game and be solid alongside who he is partnered with. Other time's he looks completely hopeless.

Of course, he did well in the way of interceptions on the season, matching Declan Rice at the top of the league.

 

Hassane Kamara (Watford) – 94 

Despite coming in a very respectable third place on this list, Hassane Kamara couldn't help his team survive the drop this season, as Watford finished in 19th place and will play Championship football next year.

Kamara's interceptions were his best defensive qualities, as he tallied 31 more than Kiko Femenia in second place. It also propelled him to the top of the teams' tackles + interceptions list with 155, another 35 ahead of second place.

 

Mohammed Salisu (Southampton) – 93 

Another Southampton player on this list, Mohammed Salisu is very similar to Bednarek in the sense that he could be solid, or he could be missing completely.

He is probably the better of the two, and the best defender at the club, despite sharing the top spot in the league for most errors in the league with five.

But that is only errors that lead to a shot. He did not make one mistake that directly led to a goal. Maybe.

 

Matty Cash (Aston Villa) – 90 

Matty Cash had a strong season that would have put a number of teams on notice of the players ability. He not only is a competent defender, he can also chip in offensively, scoring four goals and getting three assists.

Back to his defensive efforts, he finished top of the team for blocks as well with 91, second for tackles with 90, and also second for tackles won with 44. 

 

Christian Norgaard (Brentford) – 85

Brentford's first season in the Premier League was a successful one for their standards, and their main man, Christian Norgaard, really made a name for himself over the course of the campaign.

He had a strong season in this interception category, but he was even better for tackles. With 130 tackles, he finished number one not just in the league, but in Europe. He also ranks second in Europe for tackles won with 80.

 

Romain Saiss (Wolves) – 81 

Wolves' season has them challenging for a European Competition finish at points, but ultimately, they came up short in that effort.

Romain Saiss finished at the top of the team's ranks for a couple of statistical categories, obviously including this one as well clearances (175) and tackles + interceptions (141).

 

Josh Brownhill (Burnley) – 79 

Burnley were unfortunate on the final day of the season to see themselves fall below Leeds and into the final relegation spot. They had a good run in the Premier League, but it has come to its end.

Josh Brownhill was quite possibly Burnley's best defensive player, finishing at the top of towards the top of multiple categories, including top for tackles, second for tackles won and second for pressures.

 

Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace) – 79 

Tyrick Mitchell broke through into the Crystal Palace first team towards the end of last season. This season, under the guidance of Patrick Vieira, he started in 35 of the 36 games he played.

Mitchell repaid his manager with sublime performances which earned him his first call up to the England first squad earlier this year.

He topped the team for interceptions, of course, as well as tackles (108), tackles won (54) and blocks (76), and was also second for pressures (781) andsuccessful pressures (221).

 

Stuart Dallas (Leeds United) – 78 

Leeds survived the drop in dramatic fashion at the end of the season, claiming a win on the final day to ensure their safety and another year in the top flight.

Stuart Dallas had a strong defensive year, finishing top of the team for interceptions, tackles (90), tackles won (46), successful pressures (177) and blocks (64).

 

Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) - 78 

Tyrone Mings toys along the line of the England side, and it is easy to see why. He is one of Aston Villa's best defenders, coming in at the top of various categories.

He is behind Matty Cash for interceptions as well as blocks (69), but comes in easily at number one for clearances with 181.