Football News: Top 10 Left-Backs

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Top 10 Left-Backs

10. Cesar Azpilicueta - Chelsea

This may seem a strange choice as the Spaniard is better known as a right-back, but I feel he plays better on the left these days. Especially because he breaks into the box and offers an attacking threat on the left, on the right he instead looks to play crosses into the box. His crossing is not his strong point. It does show the paucity of quality left-backs in the game though!

9. Enda Stevens - Sheffield United

Yes, he is playing as a wing-back, but the way Sheffield United defend requires him to have the positional sense of a full-back when they lose possession. Their organisation is exceptional and that helps him, but he is a very decent defender anyway. Added to that, going forward he links up well, with the Blades emphasising wide play, he spends a lot of time involved in matches. Each time I see him, he impresses me on the ball.

8. Robin Gosens - Atalanta

The only reason I put him ahead of Stevens is because Gosens is also performing in European football, as well as domestic. He is currently impressing and drawing admiring eyes from bigger clubs around Europe, so this might be the last season that Atalanta fans get to enjoy having him.

7. Ben Chilwell - Leicester City

The way he is playing right now, with the poor attitude he has displayed in recent months, Chilwell is going down the list rather than up it. The complete inability to be able to defend is being now met with a complete inability to be bothered to try and defend. If he had not started off so well, he would be nowhere near this list on his current form. The lad is in desperate need of someone to wake him up as he is in serious danger of throwing away a promising career and being one of those who slides down the leagues.

6. Alex Sandro - Juventus

On his way down the list, as he was at one time arguably the best left-back in Europe. Now he is not playing as well as Gosens at this moment, but his past performances keep him just ahead. Like most modern full-backs, his defending is an issue, but he is excellent going forward.

5. Jose Gaya - Valencia

If he was not a little on the lightweight side, he would no doubt be no longer at Valencia. Gaya has pace and skill but his defending needs work, he can get bullied due to being a bit on the weak side.

4. Alphonso Davies - Bayern Munich

Another of those who struggles to defend and is very reliant on his astonishing pace to make up for his defensive deficiencies. Going forward there has been no left-back in the world to compare with him at all this season. The only reason he is not further up is that he has no previous seasons to look to. If he plays like this next season, then those above will have to raise their game to stay ahead of him.

3. Lucas Digne - Everton

Again struggles defensively and his form has dipped as the season went on, which means it was just a fraction keeping him ahead of Davies. On his day his delivery is exceptional from the flank, which is the key to his game.

2. Andrew Robertson - Liverpool

I did initially have him on top, but his form has been dropping as the season has gone on. While he just looks mentally exhausted, that form has been worrying enough to see him lose top spot, just.

1. David Alaba - Bayern Munich

The form of Davies has meant he is mainly playing at centre-back this season, which was why I would not have normally put him top this season. However past performances were outstanding enough, added to the few games at the start of this season he was at left-back before injury gave Davies a chance.

Written by Tris Burke March 07 2020 23:20:34