Ben Chilwell and Andy Robertson have been phenomenal for Leicester City and Liverpool this season respectively.
Like all great modern-day full-backs, Chilwell is heavily involved in all aspects of the play. Full-backs play risky passes in general with crosses not being all that accurate. Chilwell plays a lot of long balls into the channels for Jamie Vardy to chase. Despite all of this, he’s still completing close to 80 per cent of his passes for Leicester in the Premier League this term.
This highlights the fact that he can do a job for a dominant team because he isn’t wasteful even when tasked with being creative. Though he is an old-school winger hugging the touchline, he’s much more than that. Comfortable on the ball, at times he operates in central areas. However, he doesn’t just fill the role, Chilwell actually pulls the strings when he’s allowed to.
Not only is he dangerous from wide areas and dead ball but he can also act as a creative hub from central areas if tasked with that job. The scary thing is he’s still only 22 and nowhere near his peak.
Unlike most defenders, he prefers to stay in position, which means he rarely runs at a player to make a tackle. Another crucial strength to Chilwell’s game is his ability to win aerial duels. The left-back is quite comfortable with clearing away dangerous crosses.
In 17 league appearances this season, Chilwell has racked up a goal and 3 assists in 1520 minutes. He has averaged 0.5 shots per game with a pass success percentage of 79.1%. He has managed 1.3 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 2.4 successful aerial battles per game. With an average of 2.2 clearances and 0.8 dribbles, Chilwell has come into his own this season. His 1.3 key passes have been crucial to Leicester’s success this season. [Courtesy: Whoscored]
Andy Robertson, on the other hand, has established himself as one of the league’s best full-backs.
The progress that the 25-year-old Glaswegian has made since joining the Reds from Hull City in 2017 has been nothing short of remarkable. Last season, he played a starring role as Liverpool lifted the Champions League.
He was outstanding in the Premier League as well, as the Reds got close to title glory. The 25-year-old missed only two league games all season as part of a defence which kept 21 clean sheets, while he was also one of their chief attacking threats, having provided 11 of their top-flight goals. His fine form earned him places in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year and Champions League squad of the season.
The tireless Scot is crucial to Jurgen Klopp’s approach as his overlaps allow the Reds to get in behind deep defences. Virgil van Dijk has transformed Liverpool’s defence but Robertson deserves partial credit too. Robertson is both a key member of the best defence in the Premier League and one of Europe’s most prolific assist providers.
In 19 games in the league this season, Robertson has scored one goal and teed up 5 more. He has a pass success percentage of 83.3% with an average of 0.6 shots and 0.7 successful aerial battles per game. He has been brilliant defensively and has racked up 1.9 and 1.4 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes respectively.
He has also managed 2 clearances and 1.1 dribbles per game. With 1.3 key passes per game, Robertson has established himself as a regular in the Liverpool backline. [Courtesy: Whoscored]
Numbers don’t do justice to Robertson’s influence for the Reds but if there is anyone who comes a close second, it has to be Chilwell.