The English Premier League is home to some of the best attacking defenders in the world. From high-flying full-backs to towering center backs, these defenders know how to exploit their contemporaries and find the back of the net. Today we’re taking a look at some impressive defenders who have proven to be notoriously difficult to mark. Here are the top five defenders who have had the most goal contributions (goals + assists) in the English top flight over the last six seasons.
#5 Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur/Newcastle United): 30 goal involvements
Newcastle United captain Kieran Trippier is at the top of this list, having scored five goals and 25 assists in the Premier League. Between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, Trippier has played 120 games in the English top flight over the last six seasons.
Trippier was at Tottenham between the 2015-16 and 2018-19 seasons. He played 69 Premier League games for the Lilywhites, scoring two goals and providing 14 assists. The England international spent the following two and a half seasons of his career at Atletico Madrid before returning to England with Newcastle United in January 2022. He has since played 69 games for the Magpies, scoring 4 goals and 17 assists.
#4 Lucas Digne (Everton/Aston Villa): 31 goal involvements
Former France international Lucas Digne permanently left Barcelona in July 2018 and moved to Everton. Since then, he has learned the ropes of English football and developed into one of the league’s most productive players. In the last five years, Digne has played 186 Premier League games, scoring six goals and providing 25 assists. Digne scored four goals and provided 18 assists in 113 games for Everton between 2018-19 and 2021-22 (January) before moving to Aston Villa. The 30-year-old has scored two goals and provided seven assists in 73 games for Unai Emery’s team.
Digne, a two-time Ligue 1 winner with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), is still searching for his first title in England.
#3 Marcos Alonso (Chelsea): 31 goals
In the distant third we have former Chelsea full-back Marcos Alonso. The Barcelona defender played 123 Premier League games for the Blues between the 2017-18 and 2021-22 seasons, scoring 19 goals and 12 assists. The Spaniard played 212 games for the Pensioners in all competitions, scoring 29 goals and providing 20 assists.
Alonso, who will leave Barcelona in the summer, has won everything for the west London team. He won the 2016–17 Premier League, the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League, the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League and the 2021–22 FIFA Club World Cup, among others.
#2 Andy Robertson (Liverpool): 63 goal involvements
One of the best left-backs in the world, Andy Robertson, moved from Hull City to Liverpool in July 2017. Since his move, he has played 215 games for the 19-time English champions in the Premier League, scoring eight goals and gaining 55 assists. Robertson fired on all cylinders to help Liverpool win their 19th English league title, scoring two goals and 12 assists in 36 games.
Robertson, whose contract expires in June 2026, has played a total of 294 games for the Reds across all competitions, scoring nine goals and 65 assists. In addition to the Premier League title, Robertson has won a UEFA Champions League, an FA Cup and two Carabao Cups with Jürgen Klopp’s side.
#1 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool): 73 goal involvements
At the helm is Liverpool’s outstanding full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has scored 15 goals and 58 assists in 215 Premier League games since the start of the 2017/18 season. In total, Alexander-Arnold has played 306 times for the Merseyside side in all competitions, scoring 19 goals and providing 81 assists.
The England international enjoyed his best Premier League season to date in the 2019-20 season. Alexander-Arnold appeared in all 38 games this season, contributing four goals and 13 assists and helping the Reds to their 19th championship title.