(for more detail, view the sortable Player Statistics screen in the PLAYERS menu on the Play TheGame website)

Defence:
In this category, players who have plenty to do in a beleagured back division can outscore players who perform in more competent rearguards - Richard Dunne's heroics for Manchester City come to mind. And Chris Kirkland and Robert Green probably had more chances to shine than they would have had behind less porous defences.

1. Gael Clichy (LB, Arsenal) 2459
2. Rio Ferdinand (CB, Man U) 2019
3. Richard Dunne (CB, Man C) 2006
4. Joleon Lescott (CB, LB Everton) 1988
5. Martin Laursen (CB, Aston V) 1941
6. Jamie Carragher (CB, Liverpool) 1885
7. Nemanja Vidic (CB, Man U) 1809
8. Phil Neville (RB, RM Everton) 1759
9. Brad Friedel (GK, Blackburn) 1728
10. Chris Kirkland (GK, Wigan) 1719
11. Tim Howard (GK, Everton) 1709
12 Stephen Warnock (LB, Blackburn). 1706
13. Robert Green (GK, West Ham) 1702
14. Kolo Toure (CB, Arsenal) 1685
15. Christopher Samba (CB, Blackburn) 1683
16. Lucas Neill (RB, West Ham) 1675
17. Pascal Chimbonda (RB, Tottenham) 1662
18. Bacary Sagna (RB, Arsenal) 1652
19. George McCartney (LB, West Ham) 1647
20. Vedran Corluka (CB, Man C) 1633

Clean Sheets:
This is a stat where players typically benefit from playing alongside other good players. The Manchester United defence did well collectively, but the name of Alex as the top Chelsea defender in this category suggests that he was selected when players such as John Terry were rested against less formidable opponents. Solid seasons from Portsmouth and Everton are also reflected here.

1. Nemanja Vidic (CB, Man U) 20
2.(t)Wes Brown (RB, Man U) 19
2.(t)Patrice Evra (LB, Man U) 19
2.(t)Rio Ferdinand (CB, Man U) 19
3. Jose Manuel Reina (GK, Liverpool) 18
4. (t)Alex (CB, Chelsea) 17
4. (t)Jamie Carragher (CB, Liverpool) 17
5. David James (GK, Portsmouth) 16
6.(t)Juliano Belletti (RB, Chelsea) 15
6.(t)Sol Campbell (CB, Portsmouth) 15
6.(t)Petr Cech (GK, Chelsea) 15
6.(t)Gael Clichy (LB, Arsenal) 15
6.(t)Sylvain Distin (CB, Portsmouth) 15
6.(t)Edwin Van Der Sar (GK, Man U) 15
7.(t)Ashley Cole (LB, Chelsea) 14
7.(t)Tim Howard (GK, Everton) 14
7.(t)Glen Johnson (RB, Portsmouth) 14
8. Ricardo Carvalho (CB, Chelsea) 13

Plus Michael Essien (CM, Chelsea), Hermann Hreidarsson (LB, Portsmouth), John Terry (CB, Chelsea), Sami Hyypia (CB, Liverpool), Phil Jagielka (CM, Everton), Phil Neville (RB, RM, Everton), John O'Shea (CM, Man U)

Minutes played:
Three goalkeepers played in every minute of every match last season, and solid defenders who tackle cleanly and avoid suspensions also score well.

1.(t)Brad Friedel (GK, Blackburn) 3420
1.(t)Jose Reina (GK, Asenal) 3420
1.(t)Robert Green (GK, West Ham) 3420
2. Joleon Lescott (CB, Everton) 3375
3. Martin Laursen (CB, Aston Villa) 3368
4.(t)Gael Clichy (LB, Arsenal) 3330
4.(t)Chris Kirkland (GK, Wigan) 3330
5. Paul Scharner (CB, Wigan) 3313
6. Stephen Warnock (LB, Blackburn) 3284
7. Wilfred Bouma (LB, Aston Villa) 3262
8. Tim Howard (GK, Everton) 3240
9. Phil Neville (RB, RM, CM, Everton) 3239
10.George McCartney (LB, West Ham) 3226
11.Sylvain Distin (CB, Portsmouth) 3194
12.David James (GK, Portsmouth) 3150
13.Scott Carson (GK, Liverpool) 3126
14.Luke Young (RB, Middlesbrough) 3109
15(t).Mark Schwarzer (GK, Fulham) 3060
15(t).Craig Gordon (GK, Sunderland) 3060
15(t).Lucas Neill (RB, West Ham) 3060

Goals and assists:
Among defenders, the top scorers in this category are those who go forward for corners and free kicks or who deliver the dead balls themselves. Attackers who also qualify as defenders are especially valuable here, as the names of the category leaders prove.

1. Elano (LM, Man C) 17
2. Tom Huddlestone (CM, Tottenham) 12
3.(t)Michael Essien (CM, Chelsea) 9
3.(t)Joleon Lescott (CB, Everton) 9
4. Martin Laursen (CB, Aston Villa) 8
5.(t)Pascal Chimbonda (RB, Tottenham) 7
5.(t)Matt Taylor (LB, Bolton) 7
6.(t)Charles N'Zogbia (LM, Newcastle) 6
6.(t)Ryan Taylor (RB, Wigan) 6
7.(t)Gael Clichy (LB, Arsenal) 5
7.(t)Hermann Hreidarsson (LB, Portsmouth) 5
7.(t)Phil Jagielka (CM, Everton) 5
7.(t)Glen Johnson (RB, Portsmouth) 5
7.(t)George McCartney (LB, West Ham) 5
7.(t)Bacary Sagna (RB, Arsenal) 5
7.(t)Paul Scharner (CB, Wigan) 5
7.(t)Kolo Toure (CB, Arsenal) 5
8.(t)Alex (CB, Chelsea) 4
8.(t)William Gallas (CB, Arsenal) 4
8.(t)Phil Neville (RB, RM, CM, Everton) 4
8.(t)Stephen Warnock (LB, Blackburn) 4
8.(t)Younes Kaboul (CB, Tottenham) 4

Team points:
Among defenders, the top scorers in this category are those who go forward for corners and free kicks or who deliver the dead balls themselves. Attackers who also qualify as defenders are especially valuable here, as the names of the category leaders prove.

1. Gael Clichy (LB, Arsenal) 83
2. Wes Brown (RB, Man U) 81
3.(t)Patrice Evra (LB, Man U) 78
3.(t)Rio Ferdinand (CB, Man U) 78
4. Jose Reina (GK, Asenal) 76
5. Nemanja Vidic (CB, Man U) 74
6. Jamie Carragher (CB, Liverpool) 69
7.(t)Tim Howard (GK, Everton) 65
7.(t)Joleon Lescott (CB, Everton) 65
7.(t)Kolo Toure (CB, Arsenal) 65
7.(t)Edwin Van Der Sar (GK, Man U) 65
8.(t)William Gallas (CB, Arsenal) 62
8.(t)Phil Neville (RB, RM, CM, Everton) 62
9.(t)Manuel Almunia (GK, Arsenal) 61
9.(t)Michael Essien (CM, Chelsea) 61
9.(t)Bacary Sagna (RB, Arsenal) 61
10.(t)Wilfred Bouma (LB, Aston Villa) 60
10.(t)Phil Jagielka (CM, Everton) 60
10.(t)Martin Laursen (CB, Aston Villa) 60
11. John O'Shea (CM, Man U) 59