Why Leicester and Liverpool Are Showing That Full Backs Are More Important Than Wingers

Statman Dave looks at how Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City are showing that full backs are more important in the modern game.

There’s no doubt that in the last decade we’ve seen full backs playing a bigger role in the way teams setup and especially in attack. There’s many examples of successful sides in recent years using full backs as either the main part of their attack like we see with Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold for Liverpool or at least playing a part in the build up. The change in the way full backs play compared to how it was 15/20 years ago is very clear - ex-Arsenal and England right-back Lee Dixon says wider player. It’s totally different. It used to be that if a full-back played in an attacking way they stood out. Now, it’s completely expected.” This quote from Lee Dixon shows us how the best sides need to invest in quality attacking full backs.

Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid are a brilliant example. Marcelo was by far the best full back in world football in the 2016/2017 season, where los blancos picked up both a league title and the Champions League. Marcelo & Dani Carvajal were effective going forward in La Liga and in Europe, Zidane played the diamond which meant Marcelo was almost a winger, constantly picked the ball up off Toni Kroos, Casermiro and Luka Modric to start attacks by driving the ball towards the oppositions box combining well with Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema. The Brazilian ended the season with 12 assists in both competitions and managed to finish in the ballon d'or top 20 in 2017. Dani Alves at Barcelona is another brilliant example of a modern full back, in the eight years Dani Alves assisted Lionel Messi is a magnificent 42 times - that’s 5.25 a season to just one player in the Barca side.

Leicester City are very good at progressing the ball through their full-backs: Ben Chilwell is second in the side for passes into the final third whilst Ricardo Pereira has completed more dribbles than any other his teammates. The fact that Leicester City have two of the best two way full backs in the Premier League in Chilwell and Pereira not only means that they don’t have to use traditional wingers but is also means that they’re able to chance systems more easily - as evidenced by the fact that they have switched between a 4-1-4-1, 4-4-2 diamond and a 4-3-3 frequently this season. The other really impressive thing about Leicester City in this regard is the interchange that their full-backs have with the central midfielders. Maddison frequently sits in the Toni Kroos position behind his full back and uses that space to dictate the play. This allows Ben Chilwell in particular to join the front 5 in attack. Because of how comfortable the left back is on the ball, he can comfortably play on the inside or outside positions depending on the position of Harvey Barnes or left winger ahead of him. Take Leicester seventh goal vs. Southampton. Maddison in the left half pocket, long pass to Harvey Barnes - Ben Chilwell on the underlap, cross and Jamie Vardy goal. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has spent over £150m on full-backs during his time at Manchester City. Whilst Liverpool’s full-backs look to get into the final third to create chances and are protected by the midfield shuttlers, Pep’s full-backs play a slightly less exciting but equally important role.

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