Luke Shaw in action for Manchester United (Getty Images)
The international break is here. Four weeks of the new Premier League season are done and dusted. And what four weeks these have been. Crazy goals, jaw-dropping saves, unfortunate injuries, silly red cards and everything else that defines football in England was on display for the fans.
But one thing that the fans have noticed so far is the dominance of full-backs. Be it scoring, assisting or even sliding into opposition wingers, the Premier League’s full-backs have grabbed all the headlines so far.
Today, we look at three of the best full-backs in the Premier League this season.
Mendy was signed by Manchester City in 2017 but a long-term injury last September ruled him out for the whole season. He did get a spot in the French team that won the World Cup in Russia but hardly played any part in it. Coming into the season, there were some serious concerns with his fitness but he has answered all of them in a swashbuckling fashion.
In the four games so far, he has provided 4 assists, highest by any player in the league. He has put in 27 crosses in 4 games and made 7 key passes. He has been so influential that he is virtually playing as a left-sided winger. But there are certain areas of improvement too. He often wanders off far too ahead, leaving his team vulnerable on the left flank.
The goal City conceded against Newcastle United recently is a prime example of how he, at times, isn’t aware of the danger in and around the box. He has successfully completed just 4 tackles and lost 25 out of the 39 attempted aerial duels. But it’s just his first few months after a career-threatening injury and he will need time to adapt to his defensive role under Pep Guardiola.
Another left-back, who has been tearing it apart in the Premier League, comes from the red half of Manchester. It might sound very clichéd but Luke Shaw seems like a new signing altogether for Manchester United.
He scored his first-ever goal in professional football against Leicester City on opening day and then provided an assist for Romelu Lukaku at Amex Stadium. But it’s just not his goals or assists that are winning hearts, it is his relentless running and desire to win the ball that are turning heads.
The statistics are off the charts for him this season. Apart from his goal and assist, he has provided 4 key passes, completed 9 crosses and played 8 long balls. On the defensive side of things, Shaw has made 7 tackles, completed 6 interceptions, won 24 duels and blocked two goal-bound shots. This work rate has also impressed Gareth Southgate, who has called the 23-year-old for the national team.
Marcos Alonso has been one of the best Premier League wing-backs for more than two years now and the story has continued this season as well. He scored the winner against Arsenal and has provided two assists for his teammates as well.
In Maurizio Sarri’s new system, he is essentially operating as a left-winger as Eden Hazard often cuts inside to find more of the ball. He has made 8 crosses, 4 key passes and took 8 shots on the goal. His link-up play with Hazard and Alvaro Morata has been brilliant, allowing him to get into a striker’s position time and again.
That said, Alonso does leave space for the opposition wingers to run into, which almost cost Chelsea three points against the Gunners. Once Sarri settles in with his system, however, Alonso must eventually perform his defensive duties as well, especially against the top opponents.
