Liverpool find themselves at a crossroads regarding their left-back options.
Andrew Robertson turned 31 this season, and his contract is set to expire in 2026.
His understudy, Kostas Tsimikas, will be 29 by the end of the campaign and remains under contract until 2027.
Both players may have passed their respective peaks, raising questions about the long-term viability of Liverpool’s left-back options.
This presents the Reds with an opportunity: Either overhaul the position entirely by introducing a new profile or allow one of the current players to transition into a more rotational role.
In contrast, a new player takes over as the first-choice left-back.
The decision on Liverpool’s next left-back depends on Arne Slot.
With Michael Edwards’s help, his instructions will dictate the type of player the club prioritises in recruitment.
The question is whether Liverpool will target a traditional attacking full-back, similar to Robertson at his peak, or pivot toward a more conservative profile that emphasises ball retention, positional discipline, and support in defensive transitions.
The choice of left-back, in essence, will be a barometer for Slot’s broader tactical intentions, particularly in the context of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future being up in the air.
Liverpool would do well to consider the addition of Piero Hincapié in their potential pursuit of a change in left-back responsibilities and long-term sustainability.
The Ecuadorian defender currently plays at Bayer Leverkusen.
Hincapié offers a rarely found profile: a technically gifted, left-sided centre-back who is equally good as a left-back.
His ability to provide defensive solidity with progressive ball-playing makes him an intriguing option for a Liverpool side transitioning into a more controlled possession-based team.
At just 23 years of age, Hincapié combines youth and potential with experience at the highest level.
Statistically, Hincapié ranks among the best defenders in Europe’s top five leagues.
He averages 1.95 aerial duels won per game, placing him in the 97th percentile.
His passing metrics are equally impressive; with 4.63 progressive passes per game and 59.12 passes completed per match (95th percentile), Hincapié is comfortable in possession, capable of both circulating the ball under pressure and breaking lines to progress play.
His involvement is further shown by his average of 78.47 touches per game, which highlights his proactive role in Leverkusen’s build-up play.
Hincapié contributes to advancing the ball into dangerous areas, completing 4.38 passes into the final third per 90 minutes.
These metrics suggest suitability for a team like Liverpool, where defenders are expected to be the focal point for controlled possession and maintaining rest defence.
Piero Hincapié Radar Map
The radar chart for Piero Hincapié provides a comprehensive view of his performance as a left-sided centre-back (LCB).
Still, it is essential to note that his metrics also reflect qualities that make him a strong candidate for a hybrid role, including left-back.
While Hincapié is a defender, his attacking metrics suggest a player who is far from limited to defensive duties.
His 96.1st percentile for penalty area touches per 90 is striking for a centre-back and highlights his tendency to push forward into advanced positions.
This shows his comfort in joining attacking phases, whether by overlapping as a left-back or stepping into midfield to create overloads.
Stylistically, Hincapié’s game combines physicality, athleticism, and technical ability.
His speed makes him an asset in defensive transitions, allowing him to recover quickly when playing in a high line.
This is crucial for Liverpool, given their preference for compressing play high up the pitch.
His quickness also allows him to cover wide areas, a valuable trait for a player who can alternate between left-back and left centre-back roles.
However, Hincapié’s proactive nature can lead to fouls.
In the GIF above, we see Piero Hincapié’s recovery pace.
He uses his physicality to get across his opponent and win the ball cleanly.
His athletic profile is needed in situations involving turnovers.
After regaining possession, he demonstrates composure by carrying the ball out from the back.
In possession, Hincapié’s role in Liverpool’s tactical setup would likely mirror the modern trend of defenders who contribute as much to the build-up phase as they do to defensive stability.
Hincapié could tuck into a narrow defensive three, forming a solid base alongside Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté.
This positional adjustment would allow Liverpool to transition into a 3-2-5 or 3-4-3 shape during the build-up phase, depending on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s positioning and the role of the midfielders.
Hincapié’s composure on the ball, combined with his left-footedness, makes him an ideal candidate for breaking opposition presses.
Whether through short passes into midfield or longer diagonal switches, Hincapié would provide Liverpool with an additional ball-playing outlet, alleviating pressure on Van Dijk and enabling a more balanced distribution of responsibility.
From the league fixture above, we can see Piero Hincapié’s comfort on the ball.
Instead of opting for a safer inside passing option, he shows his vision and technical ability by delivering a perfectly weighted through ball into a more dangerous position, leading to a shot on goal.
The inclusion of Hincapié would also influence the relationship of Liverpool’s right flank, particularly in relation to Alexander-Arnold’s hybrid role.
If Alexander-Arnold inverts into central midfield during possession, Hincapié’s ability to stay narrow would provide the cover needed to maintain balance.
This would allow Alexander-Arnold to operate as a deep-lying playmaker, creating a 3-2 structure in the build-up phase and producing central overloads.
If Conor Bradley is used instead of Alexander-Arnold, Hincapié’s role would shift slightly.
Bradley would provide width on the right flank as a more traditional full-back, allowing Liverpool to adopt a more conventional 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 shape in possession.
In this scenario, Hincapié’s ability to remain deeper and circulate possession would mean Liverpool retains control in the build-up phase.
At the same time, Bradley’s energy and overlapping runs would stretch the opposition.
Ultimately, Hincapié’s addition to Liverpool’s backline would give the team greater flexibility, balance, and tactical adaptability.
Hugo Bueno Scouting Report
Hugo Bueno, the 22-year-old Spanish full-back, is an example of the modern wide defender.
On loan at Feyenoord from Wolverhampton Wanderers, he gained invaluable UEFA Champions League experience.
A regular for Spain’s U21 side, Bueno has yet to make his senior debut but remains in contention for a future role in the Spanish national team.
His technical ability, defensive intelligence, and attacking directness make him an intriguing prospect for any team looking to modernise its traditional full-back responsibilities.
Bueno’s profile suits Liverpool’s need for progressive defenders capable of contributing at both ends of the pitch.
Bueno is comfortable pushing forward into advanced areas, escaping pressure with excellent ball control, and delivering crosses into the penalty area.
His speed and attacking intent allow him to stretch the pitch, creating space for teammates to exploit.
At the same time, his defensive contributions highlight his ability to fulfil the dual responsibilities demanded of modern full-backs.
Bueno’s proactive style is shown by his statistical output, which places him among the elite in Europe’s top five leagues.
He averages 3.68 progressive carries per game, ranking in the 96th percentile, highlighting his ability to drive the ball forward.
This is complemented by his involvement in the final third, with 1.68 carries into this area per game.
His attacking instincts are further supported by his 2.42 take-ons per game, which reflect his confidence in beating opponents to create attacking opportunities.
Hugo Bueno Radar Map
The data in Hugo Bueno’s radar chart strongly supports his status as a modern, electric full-back who excels at progressive and attacking contributions from the left.
While still refining certain aspects of his out-of-possession work, Bueno’s metrics show his proactive style, technical ability, and suitability for a system that prioritises high-intensity attacking transitions.
His ability to influence play in the opposition’s half is particularly shown.
His 94th percentile for penalty area touches per 90 indicates that he frequently involves himself in advanced areas and likes to “bomb on” into the final third.
In a league fixture against Nottingham Forest, Bueno demonstrates his technical ability to evade pressure in tight spaces.
With a defender tight to his back, he uses a clever feint (disguising his intention to play the ball back toward its origin) and executes a sharp turn to spin away from his marker.
This quick movement allows him to go into the open space ahead, driving the attack forward.
Defensively, Bueno’s game is good.
He exhibits a sharp reading of the game, as demonstrated by his average of 1.37 interceptions per game, which places him in the 88th percentile among full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues.
Bueno also ranks in the 99th percentile for blocks, averaging 1.89 per game.
He is willing to sacrifice himself for the team and is committed to defensive solidity.
In one-on-one situations, Bueno’s composure and technique improve each game.
He successfully tackles 64.3 per cent of dribblers he faces, ranking in the 81st percentile.
Bueno’s attacking contributions are shown by his tendency to stretch the pitch and create overloads on the left flank.
His overlapping runs are aggressive and create opportunities for his teammates to exploit space inside.
Bueno is exceptional in executing “give-and-go” combinations with wingers or midfielders.
His technical base allows him to operate comfortably in tight spaces and under pressure, while his composure in possession ensures that he retains the ball in challenging situations.
Despite his many strengths, Bueno’s game is not without areas that require refinement.
One notable area for improvement is his timing when engaging in defensive challenges.
Bueno’s proactive nature can occasionally lead to overcommitment, resulting in poorly timed tackles.
Andy Roberston Vs Hugo Bueno Stats
The chart highlights Andy Robertson’s stronger defensive skillset this season, which is at a similar level to Hugo Bueno’s.
However, Robertson stands out because he is able to progress the ball and create opportunities from deeper positions.
On the other hand, Hugo Bueno excels in attacking contributions, with continuous involvement in the opposition box and more dribbling (more likely to forward runs).
In the final third, Bueno appears to sacrifice some defensive solidity for greater impact.
In Liverpool’s tactical setup, Hugo Bueno’s role could vary depending on the personnel around him and the demands of the game.
In a 3-2-5 shape during possession, Bueno could be included in the attacking five and hug the touchline, offering width on the left side.
This positional adjustment would allow Liverpool to stretch the opposition horizontally, creating overloads.
When Liverpool transitions into a 3-2-5 shape in possession, the full-backs play an important role in the positional responsibilities of the system.
In this setup, Bueno would be tasked with maintaining width on the left side of the pitch, stretching the opposition’s defensive block and pinning back their right-sided defenders.
This positioning would free up the left-sided forward, such as Luis Díaz or Cody Gakpo, to move inside and occupy the half-space, creating attacking triangles with the central midfielder (e.g., Dominik Szoboszlai) and the striker (e.g., Darwin Núñez or Diogo Jota).
Bueno’s ability to stay wide and deliver crosses into the box would make him an important outlet when Liverpool hopes to overload the penalty area.
By hugging the touchline, Bueno would ensure that Liverpool’s attacking shape remains expansive, forcing the opposition to cover more ground and leaving central pockets of space open for Liverpool’s creative players to exploit.
In a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 shape, Bueno’s responsibilities would be slightly different, as he would alternate between providing width higher up the pitch and dropping deeper to form a traditional back four.
In these systems, Bueno’s understanding of space would be important.
For example, when Liverpool is building out from the back, Bueno could stay deeper and form a passing triangle with Virgil van Dijk and the left-sided central midfielder.
This would allow Liverpool to progress the ball through the first phase of build-up while having stability in case of a turnover.
However, once the ball enters the middle third, Bueno could push higher up the pitch, providing an overlapping option for the left winger or offering himself as a progressive passing outlet.
Hugo Bueno’s play style fits the demands of the modern full-back role.
His ability to combine, attack with intent, and be competent in his duels makes him a perfect fit for Liverpool.
At 22 years of age, Bueno has already demonstrated his potential to perform at the highest level.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Liverpool’s left-back situation presents a pivotal decision that could shape the team’s tactical identity for years to come.
Both Piero Hincapié and Hugo Bueno represent distinct yet complementary profiles, offering Liverpool the opportunity to modernise their rest defence while addressing the evolving demands of the full-back role.
The choice between these two profiles reflects more profound questions about Liverpool’s tactical future under Arne Slot.
Will the club continue prioritising the control and positional stability that Hincapié offers, or opt for Bueno’s attacking flair and pitch-stretching qualities?
More broadly, this decision raises a fundamental question about the evolution of the full-back role: as football continues to shift toward hybrid positional play, how should Liverpool’s recruitment strategy balance traditional full-back responsibilities with the growing need for ball-circulating defenders?
