'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Premier League season has come to an epic end and Manchester City was finally successful in seeing off a spirited challenge for the Premier League title from Liverpool. Pep Guardiola's team managed to retain the title on the last matchday of the season, leaving Liverpool in a pool of disappointment. However, both the top teams should be lauded for entertaining us with fantastic attacking football day in day out in the Premier League.
While both teams differ in their overall tactics, they are similar in their use of fast, exciting full-backs, a trend that has become very popular in recent years. The role of the modern right back, as such, is one of excitement, showered with composed defending and relentless attacking. The Premier League too has had its share of impressive right-backs this season, brilliant men who have lit up the right side of the field and have taken the league by a storm.
At Sportskeeda, we honour the best players of each league with the SK Awards. Today, as a part of the SK Awards, we present the 5 Best Right-Back in the Premier League this season.
#5 Kyle Walker (England, Manchester City)
The Englishman was fantastic for England in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and carried that form into the season for Manchester City. Walker had 33 appearances in the Premier League, 30 of which were starts. He was an assured presence in the right back position for Guardiola and even picked up a goal and an assist in the league.
Walker is among the new generations of full backs who love joining the attack at every opportunity. In Guardiola’s style of play, his abilities are a perfect fit and the Englishman is most often stationed in the opposition half. His speed is an asset during counter attacks and also while tracking back, and he has been consistently excellent in both boxes for City.
The Englishman has averaged 1.2 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and just 0.5 fouls per game. He has a tackle success rate of 65% and has averaged 72 passes per game. Even though he has 59 crosses to his name, he only has a 7% cross accuracy.
Walker has registered 4 through ball and 117 accurate long balls. His work rate on the field is also decent, as he has covered a distance of 9.33 km on an average per game. This season, Walker has been the fifth best right back in the league and was instrumental for City as they won a historic domestic treble.
#4 Aaron Wan-Bissaka (England, Crystal Palace)
The 21-year old is one of the hottest properties of world football right now and could be playing for a new club by the end of the summer. Wan-Bissaka has been fantastic for Crystal Palace this season and is currently one of the best young right backs in the world. He had 35 appearances in the Premier League, all of which were starts.
The Englishman is another young full back who is poised for a big future ahead. Wan-Bissaka is a right back who likes dribbling, is very good at tackling and interceptions and also is good at picking out passes. He has averaged 3.7 tackles, 2.4 interceptions and just 0.7 fouls per game in the league this season. Interestingly, he has a tackle success rate of 68% and is considered one of the finest tacklers in his position in the world right now.
Wan-Bissaka has averaged 33 passes per game and created 4 big chances. He has registered 56 crosses and has a decent cross accuracy of 21%. The youngster is full of running and has covered a distance of 10.04 km per game in the league on an average. He is 4th in our list.
#3 Ricardo Pereira (Portugal, Leicester City)
Pereira joined Leicester City from FC Porto at the start of the 2018/19 season and immediately booked a place in the first team. The Portuguese is an extremely versatile player who is equally at ease on the right wing and he has played in the midfield for Leicester on quite a few occasions as well. However, Pereira's best position is at right back and he has been fantastic in that role for his club this season.
Another flying full back who loves bombing forward, the Portuguese likes to have the ball at his feet and is blessed with great dribbling skills too. However, he is also a tough defender and likes to tackle. This season, Pereira has averaged 3.4 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 1.2 fouls per game in the league. He has 35 appearances in the Premier League, has scored 2 goals and also has 6 assists to his name. Interestingly, the Portuguese has averaged 1.9 successful dribbles per game!
Pereira is a tireless worker on the field and has averaged a distance of 9.89 km per game in the league this season. He has 104 crosses to his name, with a cross accuracy of 14%. The Portuguese has averaged 44 passes per game, has created 10 big chances and registered 3 through balls. He is the third best right back in the league in the 2018/19 season.
#2 Matt Doherty (Ireland, Wolverhampton Wanderers)
The Ireland International was a constant feature in the Wolverhampton Wanderers defence this season, appearing in all of their games in the Premier League. Doherty, as a right back, is extremely strong and composed. He likes to venture forward and join the attack whenever possible and is also a goal threat. The Ireland International has scored 4 goals and registered 5 assists this season in the Premier League this season.
Doherty has averaged 1.8 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and just 0.8 fouls per game this season. He has a tackle success rate of 63% in the league. The Irishman is a player who likes the ball at his feet but is equally committed when his team loses possession. Doherty has averaged a distance of 9.50 km per game in the league this season.
The wing-back has averaged 37 passes per game and has created 9 big chances. He has recorded 62 crosses and has a cross accuracy of 23%. But his contributions have not been restricted to defending alone. Doherty has also been a threat from set pieces and has even hit the woodwork once this season in the league.
He is averaging 1.2 shots and 1 key pass per game in the league. The Irishman finishes second in the SK Award for Best Right-Back of the season this year, in the Premier League.
#1 Trent Alexander-Arnold (England, Liverpool)
And the SK Award for the Best Right-Back in the Premier League goes to Trent Alexander-Arnold!
The Liverpool right-back had a sensational season for his club and even though Liverpool finished a close second and failed to win the Premier League, Alexander-Arnold caught the eye with his overall display. The 20-year old showed maturity and expertise beyond his years and established himself as the best right back in the Premier League.
Alexander-Arnold is a young full-back who likes to attack, is very good at crossing and set pieces, and likes defending as well. The Englishman has averaged 2.1 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and just 0.5 fouls per game. He has registered a tackle success rate of 64%.
The youngster has also been fabulous going forward, scoring 1 goal and registering 12 assists from 29 games in the league. He has averaged 1 shot and 1.7 key passes per game.
The Englishman is also blessed with good passing abilities and has averaged 59 passes per game in the league. He has created 11 big chances and 3 through balls. Alexander-Arnold's crossing has been a high point of Liverpool's gameplay this season and he has registered 201 crosses in the league, with a 29% crossing accuracy.
In a Liverpool team which never tires of running, Alexander-Arnold has been everywhere on the pitch, covering 9.53 km per game on an average. He looks set to rule the right back position for his club and country for years to come.
