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Manchester United's Luke Shaw runs past Thiago Alcantara
There are several incredibly talented left-backs in the Premier League and we're starting to see the best of some of them now.
When there is a conversation about the greatest left-backs to have played in the Premier League, names like Dennis Irwin, Ashley Cole, Patrice Evra and Stuart Pearce among several others come to mind.
Of late in the Premier League, there has been a tendency among most teams to switch to a more expansive style of football.
A lot of attention and focus is given on building from the back and as such, full-backs and wing-backs play a big role in connecting the defense and the midfield and then the midfield and attack as they almost become primary ball carriers.
The full-back's primary duty is to help out in defence as opposed to a wing-back. However, that doesn't mean that they ever stop shuttling back and forth down their flanks. It is one of the toughest jobs on a football pitch.
On that note, let's take a look at the top five left-backs in the Premier League this season.
#5 Stuart Dallas
Perhaps the most versatile player on this list, Dallas has made more than 200 appearances playing in a variety of roles ranging from left-back to midfield to right-back.
One of Leeds United's most reliable players on the football pitch, Stuart Dallas has made the majority of his appearances this season at left-back. Though their overall defensive performance needs improvement, Leeds United continue to be menacing whenever they break.
Dallas has been excellent in that sense for Marcelo Bielsa's side and has scored five goals and provided two assists this season. His contributions have come from a variety of roles but he has been pretty formidable at left-back this season.
#4 Kieran Tierney
Scottish international Kieran Tierney has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise dull season for Arsenal. He has been one of their most influential players on the pitch and has been an unlikely attacking outlet for the Gunners.
What sets Tierney apart is his ability to perform his defensive duties just as well as he can attack. He has also produced impressive performances playing for a struggling Arsenal side which means that if the Gunners can invest wisely and bolster their squad, we'll undoubtedly see Tierney up his levels as well.
Tierney has a goal and an assist in the Premier League and judging him on the basis of those numbers would be quite reductive as most pundits are in agreement that Tierney is one of the best left-backs in the Premier League.
#3 Lucas Digne
Lucas Digne suffered an ankle injury towards the start of the year and has since struggled to replicate his form from the first half of the season. But there are few left-backs in the Premier League who can match the Everton man on his day.
Digne, a former Barcelona player, has been one of the best left-backs in the Premier League since joining in 2018. The Frenchman has consistently been one of the Toffees' best creative outlets. The 27-year-old has six assists to his name in 19 appearances in the Premier League this season.
His work ethic is exemplary and is a solid defender as well. But his best days are when he bombs forward to become a thorn in the neck of opposition defenders. Digne whips in some delightful balls into the box from the left-wing.
Carlo Ancelotti has preferred to use Digne in a more advanced role these days and it has paid off more often than not.
#2 Aaron Cresswell
West Ham United have been one of the surprise packages this season. The Hammers have stepped it up this term and are currently sitting fifth, two points shy of fourth, with a game in hand.
That has a lot to do with how David Moyes has been able to improve his players and one of their best ones presently is 27-year-old English left-back Aaron Cresswell.
Cresswell has even had to shift from left-back to left centre-back whenever Moyes has gone with a three-at-the-back system. He has become formidable in defence, taking to his role as a centre-half as a fish to water whenever the system has demanded that of him.
From being a squad player, Cresswell has now become undroppable and is making a strong case for the Euros. Cresswell now has seven assists to his name from 27 Premier League appearances.
Even when he is playing as a left-sided centre-back, he has been able to set his teammates up to score goals and that's quite incredible.
#1 Luke Shaw
When Luke Shaw initially integrated himself into the Manchester United senior side, he was a young player brimming with talent. He was one of their best players on the pitch at a tender age but a horror injury that saw him miss out on a full season set him back.
Luke Shaw has since struggled but has been showing signs of improvement under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He has just started playing the best football of his career and that may have something to do with the arrival of a certain Alex Telles.
Solskjaer, well wary of the need to give Shaw the push he needs, brought in Alex Telles to increase competition for the left-back spot and Luke Shaw woke up and chose violence. Shaw has, in fact, been one of the best players in the Premier League over the past two months.
He is deceptively fast and has struck up a great understanding with Marcus Rashford down the left-flank. Shaw is one of United's best players with the ball at his feet. The 25-year-old has been excellent defensively as well and it really looks like he's going to deliver on all that early promise.
Shaw has a goal and five assists to his name in the Premier League so far this season.
