The fullback position sometimes gets a little bit disrespected. If you’re playing with friends, and you have a weak link, you stick them there. Both the position itself, as well as the players that fill it, rarely get recognition for how impactful they can be. However, Jürgen Klopp, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Andrew Robertson have shown that, with the right players and tactics, fullbacks can be some of the most important players on the pitch.
Klopp has faced a lot of criticism in regards to his midfield selections throughout the season. A lack of creativity and attacking-mindedness have been the main talking points. The seven Liverpool midfielders have combined for just 14 goals and 12 assists in 197 appearances in competitions this season. This is a shockingly low 0.07 goals and 0.06 assists per match.
The German manager has explained why this isn’t a problem, saying, “I hear we don’t score enough from the midfield position, this kind of stuff… Everybody asks for perfection but we have to use our set-up to our advantage and use the full backs.”
The set-up he’s talking about uses the whole team to maximize the productivity of the fullbacks. Roberto Firmino drops into the midfield as a false 9. This creates space and makes it easier for Salah and Mane to cut inside and get behind the defense. With the two Africans cutting in, this frees up space on the flanks for Robertson and Alexander-Arnold to push up and whip in deadly crosses－which they do exceptionally.
They’ve delivered 292 crosses between them in the Premier League this season, and it’s certainly helped Liverpool’s attack. Robertson has tallied nine assists so far, and Trent has eight. Both totals are more than any other Liverpool player, as well as more than any other defender in the league.
No other team in the world has two such offensively gifted fullbacks who are encouraged and expected by their manager to bomb up the field and contribute. Although not quite as effective as Manchester City or Barcelona at creating chances, who do so through a large variety of ways, Liverpool have nearly perfected the use of fullbacks to attack their opponents.