Who are the Premier League’s best left-backs right now? | OneFootball

Who is the best left-back in the Premier League right now?

Some of football’s most talented full-backs have graced the Premier League, from Denis Irwin to Ashley Cole to Leighton Baines and everyone in between.

We’ve used our Squawka Score to pick out the top five this season. Our rating system factors in a variety of statistical categories, both defensive and attacking.

With the 2024-25 season into its final third, the best left-back in the Premier League by Squawka Score is Antonee Robinson. He sits level alongside Neco Williams and ahead of Lewis Hall. Andrew Robertson and Josko Gvardiol are the familiar faces to complete the top five.

Read on for more detail on this left-back rankings.

NB: Only players with at least half of the possible minutes (1,305) across the season under their belts are considered.

Manchester City might have struggled defensively this season but Croatian star Josko Gvardiol has been a stand-out with some solid displays – especially going forward. His attacking threat is evident after netting five Premier League goals this season, with only Erling Haaland (21) and Phil Foden (7) netting more for Man City. That output is reflected in the stats, too. Gvardiol averages the second-highest amount of shots on target per 90 minutes (0.4) among left-backs and has completed the most passes into the final third per 90 (6.52). His big chances created rating is low at 0.04 but he has managed 3.1 touches in the opposition box per 90, making him a real threat. He’s also excelled defensively too, winning 62.14% of his ground duels, making 2.91 clearances per 90 and blocking 0.55 shots.

4. Andrew Robertson

Team: Liverpool

Squawka Score: 68%

Liverpool have stormed away with the Premier League title race and while the likes of Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch deserve huge credit for this latest success, don’t sleep on Andrew Robertson. Rumours that the Scotland international was past his best are somewhat wide of the mark. Yes, he no longer bombs up and down the flank like a machine and he has zero goals or assists to his name in the Premier League this season, but he’s still averaged 0.27 big chances created per 90. What’s more, the 31-year-old has locked up the left side for Arne Slot, losing just 0.71 challenges per 90 minutes and averaging 1.51 tackles per 90.

3. Lewis Hall

Lewis Hall is really making a case to become England’s first-choice left-back after some eye-catching performances under Eddie Howe this season (once he is back from injury). The Newcastle United star is still only 20 years old and is already delivering consistently at the highest level with four assists from 24 starts in the Premier League. Hall has an Expected Goals Conceded of just 1.2 per 90 and also effectively blocks 0.99 crosses per 90 — which is the highest total for any left-back in the league. In an attacking sense, he has completed 4.93 passes into the final third per 90, the third highest in the division, made 0.7 successful passes into the penalty area and had 2.09 touches in the opposition box.

2. Neco Williams

The former Liverpool man has really developed into an exciting player after helping Nottingham Forest surge their way up the Premier League table this season. The 23-year-old has one goal, an assist and 0.48 chances created per 90 after flourishing as a real creative force under Nuno Espirito Santo. He also averages 0.29 shots on target per 90 and 1.64 touches in the opposition box. He’s also made 0.43 successful passes into the penalty area but his defensive stats are really impressive too. Williams has won 59.77% of his ground duels per 90 and 1.763 tackles and has an xG conceded of just 1.18. He’s also completed 3.95 clearances — second only to Vitaly Mykolenko (4.04) among Premier League left-backs — and made 1.11 interceptions per 90.

1. Antonee Robinson

Antonee Robinson has been one of Fulham’s most consistent players since their return to the Premier League, and he continues to post excellent numbers on both ends of the pitch. He made more interceptions than any other player across Europe’s top seven leagues last season and was the only full-back to make the top 10.

He also set the Premier League record for most interceptions made in a single game (13) against Liverpool earlier in the campaign. So far in 2024-25, the American international has won 1.75 tackles per 90 in the Premier League, while averaging 1.71 interceptions per 90 — the highest in the Premier League for a left-back. He has registered an impressive 10 assists in 30 appearances — only Mohamed Salah (17) has performed better.

How do Squawka player ratings work?

Squawka’s new player rating system is completely stats-based. Player scores are based on the numbers they put up across a range of on-ball events, from goals scored to tackles won.

Using extensive research and our expertise, we tailored each score to the players’ respective positions. For example, forwards are rated on metrics like shots on target, touches in the opposition box and big chances created. Meanwhile, centre-backs are rewarded for winning aerial duels, making blocks, successful long-range passes and so on.