Top Five Best Left Backs Of The Premier League Era

As we mentioned in our list of the top 5 right-backs last week, the fullback position hasn’t always been seen as the most glamorous role on the football pitch, but it has developed into a key area over the past decade or so.

There are are a huge number of players who could have made it onto this list but we have managed to narrow it down to five of the best left-backs in Premier League history.

Honourable mentions go to the likes of Nigel Winterburn and Graeme Le Saux who didn’t quite make the cut, but we feel the list we have come up with is well thought out.

Press the “next page” as we go through the top left-backs of the last thirty years.

5) Leighton Baines

The defender has scored 32 goals and provided 59 assists in 417 league appearances for both Wigan and Everton. He has been extremely consistent over the past 15 to 20 years and is fully deserving of his place in the top five.

A set-piece specialist, Baines has scored a number of direct free-kicks as well as having a killer delivery from corners. He is equally adept crossing the ball from open play.

4) Andy Robertson

The Scottish international has been part of a Liverpool team that has lost just twice in two Premier League seasons, as well as being a key playmaker for the Reds.

Robertson already has 27 assists in the Premier League despite being nearly ten years younger than Baines. There’s no doubt he will surpass the Everton star in terms of creating goals if he continues on the same trajectory.

3) Denis Irwin

The United stalwart won an incredible seven league titles in twelve years at Old Trafford. The fact that he cost just £625,000 made him a fantastic piece of business.

As well as being decent in both defence and attack, Irwin was a set-piece specialist and was an excellent penalty taker.

2) Patrice Evra

The Frenchman just edges out his United compatriot on this list, with the Frenchman’s five league titles and his ability as a modern-day fullback going up and down the left-wing.

Evra initially struggled, after a poor debut against Liverpool, but he quickly found his feet, establishing himself as a world-class left-back during his time at Old Trafford.

1) Ashley Cole

The former England international’s trophy cabinet kind of sums up the player’s career. At Arsenal, he was part of the ‘Invincibles’ side in 2003, claiming two Premier League titles.

Cole only managed one more league win at Chelsea, but with sixteen major honours during his time at the top level, he rightfully sits top of this list.

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