Who are the Premier League’s best left-backs right now?
Who is the best left-back in the Premier League right now?
Some of football’s most talented full-backs have graced the Premier League, from Denis Irwin to Ashley Cole to Leighton Baines and everyone in between.
We’ve used our Squawka Score to pick out the top five this season. Our rating system factors in a variety of statistical categories, both defensive and attacking.
With the 2024-25 season into its final couple of games, the best left-back in the Premier League by Squawka Score is Josko Gvardiol. He sits above the likes of Lewis Hall, Pervis Estupinan and Neco Williams.
- Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City) – 70%
- Lewis Hall (Newcastle United) – 69%
- Pervis Estupinan (Brighton) – 68%
- Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest) – 68%
- Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth) – 67%
Read on for more detail on this left-back ranking.
NB: Only players with at least half of the possible minutes (1,620) across the season under their belts are considered.
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More Premier League player rankings:
- Who are the Premier League’s best midfielders in 2024-25?
- Who are the Premier League’s best strikers in 2024-25?
- Who are the Premier League’s best centre-backs in 2024-25?
5. Milos Kerkez
- Team: Bournemouth
- Squawka Score: 67%
It’s little surprise to see Milos Kerkez in the top five given the interest around him from Champions League clubs. The Cherries defender has registered two goals and five assists this season, while sitting in the 80th-95th percentile for ground duels won per 90 (60.3%) and clearances (2.73). The Hungary international has played a huge role in what has been a wonderful campaign for Bournemouth.
4. Neco Williams
- Team: Nottingham Forest
- Squawka Score: 68%
The former Liverpool man has really developed into an exciting player after helping Nottingham Forest surge their way up the Premier League table this season. The 23-year-old has one goal, three assists and 0.63 chances created per 90 after flourishing as a real creative force under Nuno Espirito Santo. He also averages 0.26 shots on target per 90 and 1.57 touches in the opposition box. Williams has proven a reliable defensive force, too, with 1.79 tackles and 0.60 blocks per 90 minutes.
3. Pervis Estupinan
- Team: Brighton
- Squawka Score: 68%
Pervis Estupinan was nowhere near this top five at the start of the campaign, but has improved massively as it’s gone on. The Colombian has been excellent defensively, featuring among the league’s best for duels won per 90 (5.45), interceptions (1.40) and blocks (0.31), while he’s only been dribbled past 0.58 times per 90. For good measure, Estupinan has also notched a goal and an assist.
2. Lewis Hall
- Team: Newcastle
- Squawka Score: 69%
Lewis Hall is really making a case to become England’s first-choice left-back after some eye-catching performances under Eddie Howe this season (once he is back from injury). The Newcastle United star is still only 20 years old and is already delivering consistently at the highest level with four assists from 24 starts in the Premier League. Hall has an Expected Goals Conceded of just 1.2 per 90 and also effectively blocks 0.99 crosses per 90 — which is the highest total for any left-back in the league. In an attacking sense, he has completed 4.93 passes into the final third per 90, the third highest in the division, made 0.7 successful passes into the penalty area and had 2.09 touches in the opposition box.
1. Josko Gvardiol
- Team: Manchester City
- Squawka Score: 70%
Despite Man City’s struggles, Josko Gvardiol has once again been a powerhouse this season. The Croatia international has registered five goals in 35 appearances, proving again how effective he is going forward. But Gvardiol has also been defensively solid when called upon, losing just 0.52 of his challenges and completing 3.08 clearances per 90 minutes — both putting him in the 95th percentile among Premier League left-backs.
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How do Squawka player ratings work?
Squawka’s new player rating system is completely stats-based. Player scores are based on the numbers they put up across a range of on-ball events, from goals scored to tackles won.
Using extensive research and our expertise, we tailored each score to the players’ respective positions. For example, forwards are rated on metrics like shots on target, touches in the opposition box and big chances created. Meanwhile, centre-backs are rewarded for winning aerial duels, making blocks, successful long-range passes and so on.
