Comparison: Nathaniel Clyne vs Kyle Walker
The Premier League is host to some of the best talents in world football and two particular clubs from the League have two of the best right-backs in the country. Tottenham Hotspur’s Kyle Walker and Liverpool’s Nathaniel Clyne are two of the best right backs in the league at the moment. They are the two options for the Three Lions and Gareth Southgate, who has used the Spurs man a lot more recently. But how have the two fared this season?
While Liverpool have had their problems at the back, Spurs full-back has been more effective going forward, as he gets a lot more support at the back. The Liverpool defence has been shambles at times this season and this has certainly reduced Clyne’s effectiveness in the final third. But how has the duo performed overall? Here is a statistical comparison between the two players:
Both players play in a similar system and usually have a similar output. Clyne has made 200 passes more than Walker at an accuracy of 83% while Kyle Walker has made just 1113 passes at an accuracy of 80%. Clyne has also been more effective in the final third, making 39 key passes and creating 41 chances.
He has however, only 2 assists to his name compared to the 5 from Kyle Walker. The Spurs man has made just 34 key passes and has created 39 chances for his side. Both players have decent dribbling skills and can get the better of their opponents in one on one situations easily. Clyne has completed 57% of his take-ons when compared to just 52% by Walker.
Moving to the defensive areas, Walker has been more effective at the back. The Spurs man has won 67% of his aerial duels and 54% of his total duels this season. Clyne has been exceptionally poor in this case and has won just around 16% of his aerial duels. He has also won just half of his total duels, which has been an impending problem for most players at Anfield.
However, Clyne has won 60 tackles, which is 11 more than Walker this season. Pochettino’s first choice right back marches ahead of Clyne in all other defensive areas. Walker has made 97 clearances and 7 blocks this season to add to his 35 interceptions. Clyne has made 42 interceptions but has just 2 blocks and 59 clearances from the box.
Both players, as already mentioned, play in similar systems so it is clear as to who has been more effective. Both players, have however been consistent throughout the season and are sure to help their sides finish the campaign on a strong note.