Club Profiles

AFC Bournemouth club badge
Arsenal
Aston Villa Club badge
Brentford badge
Brighton and Hove Albion club badge
Burnley FC club badge
Chelsea club badge
Crystal Palace badge
Everton
Liverpool badge
Manchester City badge
Manchester United badge
Newcastle United club badge
Nottingham Forest club badge
Sheffield United badge
Spurs badge
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Tottenham's Dele Alli is tackled.

Easy: Defend

Easy: Defend

Premier Vocabulary is a mini-podcast for you to learn football English one word at a time. We have three different levels for you: easy, medium and hard.

This episode is easy so we’re looking at common football words and phrases. Things you use and need to know to play the game.

Summary

Learn more football vocabulary with Premier Skills English. Each lesson in our Premier Vocabulary section looks at one football word or phrase. This lesson looks at the words defend, defender and defence

You can find more lessons on the side of this page.

Transcript

Rich: Hello my name’s Rich and welcome to Premier Skills English - Premier Vocabulary.

Jack: Hi there! I’m Jack. We’re here to help you with your football English. Premier Vocabulary is a mini-podcast for you to learn football English one word at a time. 

Rich: Don’t forget you can always find the transcript for all our podcasts on the Premier Skills English website. We have three different levels for you: easy, medium and hard.

Jack: This episode is easy so we’re looking at common football words and phrases; things you use and need to know to play the game.


Rich: The word we are looking at in this episode is: defend.

Jack: Defend is the root word we’re going to look at in this episode but we’re also going to look at other words or parts of speech that are connected to defend.

Rich: We’re going to look at words and phrases such as defend, defence, defender, in defence and defending.

Jack: Defend is a verb and it’s most common meaning is connected to protecting something especially protecting something against an attack.

Rich: The purpose of an army or a military force is to defend itself against attacks from enemies.

Jack: Animals defend their territory.

Rich: Yes, my dog always barks at strangers who come to the house.

Jack: Yes, your house or garden is its territory. It’s defending its territory.

Rich: I suppose football players have to do something similar.

Jack: Bark at strangers?

Rich: Maybe. No, they have to protect the goal. They have to stop attackers scoring. They have to defend.

Jack: Yes, the whole team have to defend - to stop the other team scoring.

Rich: You’re right but who has to defend the most?

Jack: Defenders. It’s a defender’s job to protect the goal and to help the goalkeeper.

Rich: There are some fantastic defenders in the Premier League at the moment. Who do you think is the best?

Jack: It’s difficult but maybe Aymeric Laporte at Manchester City. He’s a great defender.

Rich: He’s good but Virgil Van Dijk has to be the best central defender in the Premier League. It’s a pity he’s injured.

Jack: A central defender is a defender who plays in the middle of the defence. Central defenders are also called centre-backs. 

Rich: Aymeric Laporte and Virgil Van Dijk are central defenders or centre backs. They play in the middle of a team’s defence.

Jack: The defence. A team’s defence is the part of the team whose job it is to stop the other team scoring.

Rich: A defence usually consists of four or five defenders

Jack: A team might have two or three central defenders and then two other defenders on the left and the right.

Rich: Trent Alexander Arnold plays in defence for Liverpool but he’s not a central defender, he’s full-back or wing-back. He plays on the right-hand side of Liverpool’s defence.

Jack: Did you notice the preposition ‘in’? Alexander-Arnold plays in defence for Liverpool. He is a defender. He is very good at defending.

Rich: Did you notice the preposition ‘at’? Alexander-Arnold is very good at defending. 

Jack: We can use defend as a noun by adding the gerund form -ing to defend. A common phrase you often hear when a defender does well is ‘That’s great defending!’.


Rich: There is the final whistle!

Jack: We’ll be back soon with more Premier Vocabulary from Premier Skills English.

Rich: Bye for now and enjoy your football. 

Comment

Discuss

Have you ever played in defence?

Who's the best defender in the Premier League?

Leave a comment

Log in to leave a comment

Komentar

KareemZain
17/08/2023
EG
383
points

Yes, I have played in defence when I played with my friends in 5 a side.
In my opinion, the best defender in Premier league is Virgil Van Djik.


KareemZain
17/08/2023 14:02
Egypt
Manchester City
383

Yes, I have played in defence when I played with my friends in 5 a side.
In my opinion, the best defender in Premier league is Virgil Van Djik.

Rath6180's picture
Rath6180
08/02/2023
GB
759
points

I have never played in defence, I usually play centre mid field. I think that Virgil Van Dyke is the best defender in the Premier League.


Rath6180's picture
Rath6180
08/02/2023 10:01
United Kingdom
Liverpool
759

I have never played in defence, I usually play centre mid field. I think that Virgil Van Dyke is the best defender in the Premier League.

Michaelsun
14/03/2022
CN
738
points

Van dijk is the best defender in the Premier League.


Michaelsun
14/03/2022 12:23
China
Manchester United
738

Van dijk is the best defender in the Premier League.

Gabriel Amaral's picture
Gabriel Amaral
27/05/2021
BR
1512
points

Yes, I did. Actually there's where I prefer to play.
Man City's central defender Ruben Diasis the best in PL, in my oppinion.


Gabriel Amaral's picture
Gabriel Amaral
27/05/2021 19:36
Brazil
Arsenal
1512

Yes, I did. Actually there's where I prefer to play.
Man City's central defender Ruben Diasis the best in PL, in my oppinion.

Yigitcan's picture
Yigitcan
27/11/2020
AZ
48
points

I have played in defence but I don't like be a defender as much as be a attacker. Söyüncü,who has injured, is the best defender in the league. Laporte is the most overrated defender in the league.


Yigitcan's picture
Yigitcan
27/11/2020 07:42
Azerbaijan
Leicester City
48

I have played in defence but I don't like be a defender as much as be a attacker. Söyüncü,who has injured, is the best defender in the league. Laporte is the most overrated defender in the league.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
27/11/2020
TR
6539
points

I respect Harry Maguire and Virgil Van Dijk a lot as two of the best defenders in the Premier League whereas I reckon that Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the best defender in the league in my opinion because of his successful tackles and interceptions.
I am always wondering why he hasn't played for England until that moment.


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
27/11/2020 07:18
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

I respect Harry Maguire and Virgil Van Dijk a lot as two of the best defenders in the Premier League whereas I reckon that Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the best defender in the league in my opinion because of his successful tackles and interceptions.
I am always wondering why he hasn't played for England until that moment.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
27/11/2020
TR
6539
points

I have never played in defence because I always play on the right flank as a left-footed right winger or as no.10 an attacking midfielder to set up goals for strikers and score long range goals :)
My brother always plays as a defender and he is a solid defender so we complete each other :)


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
27/11/2020 07:14
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

I have never played in defence because I always play on the right flank as a left-footed right winger or as no.10 an attacking midfielder to set up goals for strikers and score long range goals :)
My brother always plays as a defender and he is a solid defender so we complete each other :)

Naldo24
25/11/2020
PE
133
points

For me, The best defender in the Premier league is Virgil Van Dijck. He and Alisson do a good job every matches. It has demonstrated in statistics, but in The four last matches Liverpool has conceded more than twelve goals, this is very concerning.


Naldo24
25/11/2020 02:09
Peru
Liverpool
133

For me, The best defender in the Premier league is Virgil Van Dijck. He and Alisson do a good job every matches. It has demonstrated in statistics, but in The four last matches Liverpool has conceded more than twelve goals, this is very concerning.

Naldo24
25/11/2020
PE
133
points

No, I never have played in defence. This position is very important but I like scoring many goals. Also, I consider defenders have a more physical job and they should a good tall for defending corners kicks.


Naldo24
25/11/2020 02:05
Peru
Liverpool
133

No, I never have played in defence. This position is very important but I like scoring many goals. Also, I consider defenders have a more physical job and they should a good tall for defending corners kicks.

Yoshichika's picture
Yoshichika
24/11/2020
JP
76
points

I had never played in defence. I played left-side forward or 1 top.

I think that the best defender in the Premier League is Virgil van Dijk, the second is Thiago Emiliano da Silva.


Yoshichika's picture
Yoshichika
24/11/2020 23:55
Japan
Liverpool
76

I had never played in defence. I played left-side forward or 1 top.

I think that the best defender in the Premier League is Virgil van Dijk, the second is Thiago Emiliano da Silva.

hsn's picture
hsn
24/11/2020
TR
5558
points

Have you ever played in defence?

I always played in defence.Because I’m left-foot player and get position on the right of the pitch as a wing-back or sometimes centre-back (stoper) . This is also opposite side of opponent striker who generally right-foot player.

Who's the best defender in the Premier League?
In my opinion César Azpilicueta- Chelsea F.C

P.S.
This week at the V.Real-R.Madrid- LaLiga match, assistant referee rised his flag before R.Madrid’s goal but referee decided to continue the game and didn’t whistle to stop it.
Assistant referees aren’t in charge of making desicion they only advise to the referee. Ultimate desicion must be made by referee.


hsn's picture
hsn
24/11/2020 16:48
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5558

Have you ever played in defence?

I always played in defence.Because I’m left-foot player and get position on the right of the pitch as a wing-back or sometimes centre-back (stoper) . This is also opposite side of opponent striker who generally right-foot player.

Who's the best defender in the Premier League?
In my opinion César Azpilicueta- Chelsea F.C

P.S.
This week at the V.Real-R.Madrid- LaLiga match, assistant referee rised his flag before R.Madrid’s goal but referee decided to continue the game and didn’t whistle to stop it.
Assistant referees aren’t in charge of making desicion they only advise to the referee. Ultimate desicion must be made by referee.

Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
24/11/2020
UA
6577
points

I can play in any position, even in goal, so I've played in defence as well.


Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
24/11/2020 14:37
Ukraine
Liverpool
6577

I can play in any position, even in goal, so I've played in defence as well.

Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
24/11/2020
UA
6577
points

The best defenders in the Premier League are Van Dijk and Robertson.


Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
24/11/2020 14:36
Ukraine
Liverpool
6577

The best defenders in the Premier League are Van Dijk and Robertson.

gogo
24/11/2020
VN
93
points

I've played in defence many times in defence cause I'm a defender although I really like to attack and scoring goals.
I think Thiago Silva is the best Premier League's defender because since he came to Chelsea,he has managed the defence very well and that's a reason why Edouard Mendy has many clean sheets


gogo
24/11/2020 14:28
Vietnam
Chelsea
93

I've played in defence many times in defence cause I'm a defender although I really like to attack and scoring goals.
I think Thiago Silva is the best Premier League's defender because since he came to Chelsea,he has managed the defence very well and that's a reason why Edouard Mendy has many clean sheets

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1Alex_from_Ukraine6577
2mobeckham6539
3hsn5558
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4779
6Liubomyr4417
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia74676
2Ukraine33869
3Spain29476
4Serbia27426
5Brazil23472
6Albania20578
7Vietnam20455
8Turkey20109
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United146812
2Liverpool111387
3Chelsea90227
4Arsenal86350
5Manchester City58851
6Tottenham Hotspur19474
7Newcastle United10625
8West Ham United7671
9AFC Bournemouth4915
10Crystal Palace4539

Level

1
Average: 1 (1 vote)

Goals

Learn more football vocabulary.