At Anfield on Saturday, there appeared to be a sliding-doors moment in the world of Premier League left-backs.
If Fulham’s 2-2 tie with Liverpool was a surprise, Antonee Robinson’s standout performance was not.
Andy Robertson was sent off for Liverpool after 17 minutes, and it was difficult not to see the afternoon’s events as indication that Robinson had taken over as England’s top left-back.
Robinson assisted both Fulham goals with another outstanding performance.
He has the most assists of any defender in the Premier League since the beginning of last season, with 12, while only Bukayo Saka and Mohamed Salah have more than six this season.
Salah was also reminded of Robinson’s ability at Anfield, where he was successfully kept at bay by the American international for much of the game. His manager, Marco Silva, stated it was “difficult to express in words” how effectively Robinson performed against Liverpool.
“He’s been great for us again this season,” Silva remarked before the game. “Not only offensively, but also defensively. “He’s a great athlete who can always go up and down.”
That is evidenced by his average of 8.5 sprints per match in the Premier League, which is only surpassed by one defender: Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.
In recent seasons, the Premier League has seen fewer and fewer standout left-backs, although Kerkez and Robinson stick out, as does Marc Cucurella (when he’s wearing the appropriate studs).
Manchester City has typically rotated between Rico Lewis, Matheus Nunes, and Josko Gvardiol on the left side, while Arsenal has alternated between Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, and, most recently, 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Robinson’s lung-busting runs have been consistent in the truest sense of the word.
He has made 49 consecutive Premier League starts for Fulham and is one of only four outfield players to play every minute this season.
It is an underappreciated football skill, but Robinson is rarely harmed.
Silva lauded his left-back last week for developing his defensive game over the last two years, and he is correct in describing Robinson as a highly successful defender now.
In an interview with WhoScored this month, Robinson stated of statistics, “I don’t look into it. You may have a game in which you’ve missed seven crosses, but you’ve also placed seven crosses in good areas. So you can get whatever you want out of it.
“But, overall, that is maturing into where football is going. Over time, the statistics do not lie.”
And they don’t. Robinson has made the most tackles and interceptions (81) this season of any player in the league. Last season, in the same statistic, he finished second. Top? His former Fulham teammate Joao Palhinha.
One wonders if the 27-year-old from Milton Keynes would be England’s first-choice left-back if he hadn’t committed to his international career with the United States, for which he qualifies through his father.
Robinson recently stated that he wants to score his first Premier League goal as soon as possible, but admitted that Fulham’s positioning demands force him to stay wide.
However, in the United States, he is given more freedom to attack the back post, occasionally playing as a left wing-back.
Liverpool has long admired Robinson and has followed his progress for several years.
His impressive start to the season has sparked renewed interest in him, and some Fulham fans were frightened when Robinson was seen to have ‘liked’ remarks on social media indicating he would fit right in at Anfield.
However, it was later revealed that the comments were made by Robinson’s pals, who were simply praising their friend for his outstanding performance rather than urging him to leave Craven Cottage.
Many teams will be looking at Robinson as a target, but Fulham may take advantage of his spectacular ascent.
At a time when there are so few real left-backs playing regularly in the Premier League, it seems reasonable to infer that Robinson is the finest.
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