Top 3 Left-Backs Of The Premier League For The Calendar Year 2017
For a good majority of Premier League teams, the left-back position continues to be a major problem. More often than not, the player ends up picking an injury, which then upsets the team’s existing dynamics, and things end up toppling from that point on. At Manchester United, Luke Shaw’s absence caused a lot of problems and even Manchester City were dealt with a similar left-back situation.
Unless one is as fortunate as Tottenham Hotspur to have two prolific players like Ben Davies and Danny Rose fighting for the left-back spot, that area continues to be a rather dicey position. Even if a club has available options, it is tough to find a player who can slot in and make that position his own.
That is true for any defensive position but even more so for makeshift full-backs. And yet, 2017 saw some unlikely players take up the responsibility and surprise everyone. Here are 3 of the best left-backs in the Premier League in 2017.
Marcos Alonso – Chelsea
Alonso continues to be one of the most instrumental players for Antonio Conte at the back. His effective transitioning between attack and defence is truly commendable. Despite indulging in forward runs, Alonso never neglects his defensive duties. Interestingly, his defensive numbers are close to being the best on this list even though he has scored 5 goals this season. The Spaniard averages 1.8 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and commits about 1 foul per game. Besides that, he makes 2.2 clearances and 0.2 blocks on an average.
Ashley Young – Manchester United
Young was deployed as a makeshift left-back by Jose Mourinho a couple of times last season but it was only in the initial stages of this new campaign that he made that position his own. He has remarkably taken up duty at left-back and has rarely ever given the fans any cause for complaint. He has scored 2 goals and 4 assists in addition to be averaging 1.6 tackles and 1.9 interceptions. Young commits about 0.9 fouls per game while making an average of 2.8 clearances and 0.3 blocks.
Fabian Delph – Manchester City
Again, one might argue that Delph did not have as much of a role to play last season and that he is not a natural left-back but the fact is that he has been phenomenal for City in that area for a good majority of the current season. Much like Alonso and Young, Delph too proved to be a revelation in terms of contributing to the attack as well as defence. Having scored one goal and one assist so far, Delph makes an average of 2.2 tackles and 1.6 interceptions. Committing about 0.7 fouls per game, the player makes 1.6 clearances and 1 dribble.