Why Fulham's Robinson is the Premier League's best left-back

In an era where most left-sided defenders are inverted into the midfield or wing-backs, it is refreshing to see an old-fashioned, marauding left-back thriving in Antonee Robinson.

The Fulham full-back is currently one of the most creative players in the Premier League, with six assists so far this season. It is the most out of any Premier League defender, while only Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka have more out of all the top-flight players.

What is even more impressive is while Robinson is competing with Salah and Saka on the assists front, the defender has kept both those players quiet at the other end in his last two Premier League games.

Six days after limiting Saka to scraps in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, Robinson did battle with Salah down the wing at Anfield last weekend – and won the individual contest.

The in-form Salah took on Robinson a dozen times down the right flank – three-quarters of those occasions saw Salah either lose the ball or pass it backwards. Only one out of the 12 occasions saw Salah make a positive movement – and that sole forward pass came to nothing.

At the other end, Robinson produced two assists at Anfield as Fulham claimed a 2-2 draw. He created four chances in total, three more than Salah. And this was no fluke performance up against the Liverpool forward. In fact, there was a similar outcome in last season’s game at Anfield, which Fulham lost 4-3.

That day, Robinson laid on an assist for Fulham’s first goal scored by Harry Wilson – and ended the game with an impressive 13 interceptions when up against Salah, who once again was kept off the scoresheet.

It goes to show that the American has been producing these levels for some time. And as Fulham manager Marco Silva adds: “He’s one of the best left-backs in this league.”

Robinson has always been a solid one-on-one defender from a defensive point of view. He made the most interceptions out of any player last term – and has continued this season in the same vein.

In fact, he is the only Premier League player to be involved in at least 65 one-on-one defensive duels this season and have his team not concede a goal from the same move.

Robinson has been taken on 129 times by opposition players and the ball has stayed out of the net on every occasion. Meanwhile, every other player put in similar positions has conceded at least once.

But this season, he has added a more attacking side to his game. He is top of the Premier League for overlapping runs and, as mentioned above, the end product is often chances created and assists.

“It’s not just the way he is able to stop players, but the way he is able to help ourselves,” says Fulham boss Silva – and his team-mates have noticed this too.

He has been playing really good, he’s been more decisive in the final third of the pitch because we know he’s a really good defender,” Raul Jimenez tells Sky Sports ahead of this weekend’s game with Southampton.

“He has been really doing that final pass for us to score and I’m really happy for him to be in that form that he is now.”

There are many factors that show why Robinson is getting more joy in attack. First is the simple notion that if Fulham’s left-back is aggressive in attack, then some right-wingers may not track the American back. It happened with Salah last Saturday, which resulted in Robinson’s two assists.

“If you create the right areas for him, he is going to be decisive going forward,” Silva said after the draw at Liverpool.

“Going up and down is not easy for any winger to follow him the way he plays, but also he has improved in his defensive set-up.”

But another reason is the emphasis Silva places on the left wing at Fulham. In the last two seasons, it has become the most popular avenue going forward for the west Londoners – who have also invested in this area recently in the form of Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe, the latter playing centrally but keen to drift into wide areas.

The star performer right now, however, is Robinson. And the next few months could be crucial for the American. Even Silva is aware of it.

“I don’t want to talk too much about him because I know in January the same story is going to follow about Robinson,” said the Fulham boss after the draw at Liverpool. “I don’t want to go in that direction.

“He’s really focused in the way he plays, so let’s keep him like that. It’s crucial for us. If he’s the best [left-back in the league] or not, that’s not for me to decide, my players are always the best!”

At 28 years old, age is not on Robinson’s side but it hasn’t stopped the rumours. Liverpool have been linked with the left-back amid their concerns over Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas – and the Reds already know what he is capable of doing.