In an era where most left-backs are in midfield or wing-backs, it is refreshing to see an old-fashioned, marauding left-back flourish in Antonee Robinson.
The Fulham full-back is one of the most creative players in the Premier League at the moment, with six assists so far this season. It gets the most out of all Premier League defenders, with only Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka getting more out of all the top players.
What's even more impressive is that while Robinson rivals Salah and Saka in terms of assists, the defender has kept both players quiet at the other end in his last two Premier League games.
Six days after restricting Saka to nil in Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, Robinson took on Salah behind the wing at Anfield last weekend and won the individual competition.
The in-form Salah took on Robinson on the right flank 10 times – on three-quarters of those occasions, Salah lost the ball or passed it behind. Only once out of 12 did we see Salah make a positive move, and that one 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 against the Liverpool striker. In fact, there was a similar result at Anfield last season, which Fulham lost 4-3.
That day, Robinson provided an assist for Fulham's first goal scored by Harry Wilson – and finished the match with a whopping 13 interceptions as he came up against Salah, who was once again kept off the scoresheet.
It shows that the American has been producing these levels for a while. And as Fulham manager Marco Silva adds: “He is one of the best left-backs in this league.”
Robinson has always been a solid one-on-one defender from a defensive standpoint. He made the most interceptions of any player last season and has continued in the same vein this season.
In fact, he is the only Premier League player to have been involved in at least 65 one-on-one defensive encounters this season and not concede a goal to his team from the same move.
Robinson has been used 129 times by opponents and the ball has stayed out of the net every time. Meanwhile, every other player placed in similar positions has conceded at least once.
But this season he has added a more attacking side to his game. He sits at the top of the Premier League for his overlapping runs and, as mentioned above, the end product often consists of chances created and assists.
“It's not just the way he can stop players, but also the way he can help ourselves,” says Fulham boss Silva – and his teammates have noticed this too.
“He is playing very well. He has been more decisive in the last third of the pitch because we know he is a very good defender,” Raul Jimenez told Sky Sports ahead of this weekend's match with Southampton.
“He really made that last pass for us to score and I'm really happy he's in the form he is now.”
There are many factors that show why Robinson is becoming more comfortable on offense. Firstly, there is the simple idea that if the Fulham left back is aggressive in attack, some right wingers may not follow the American back. It happened to Salah last Saturday, resulting in Robinson's two assists.
“If you create the right areas for him, he will determine the future,” Silva said after the Liverpool draw.
“Going up and down is not easy for any winger to follow him the way he plays, but he has also improved in his defensive positioning.”
But another reason is Silva's emphasis on the left wing at Fulham. Over the past two seasons it has become the most popular street for the West Londoners – who have also recently invested in the area in the form of Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe, with the latter playing centrally but keen to stray into wider areas. .
However, the star performer at the moment is Robinson. And the coming 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 the same story about Robinson will follow in January,” the Fulham boss said after the draw at Liverpool. 'I don't want to go that way.
“He's very focused in the way he plays, so let's keep him that way. It's crucial for us. If he's the best [left-back in the league] or not, that's not up to me to decide, my players are always the best!”
At 28, age isn't on Robinson's side, but that hasn't stopped the rumors. Liverpool have been linked with the left-back due to their concerns over Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas – and the Reds already know what he is capable of.
Watch Fulham vs Southampton live on Sky Sports Premier League this Super Sunday from 1pm; starting at 2 p.m
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