Glen Johnson: Liverpool FC's New Left-Back

It appears for all intents and purposes that Liverpool has a new left-back and his name is Glen Johnson.

No, I didn't make a typo—I meant left-back.

Yes, Johnson wears the No. 2 shirt for Liverpool, as he does for England, but that is as far as he has gone to being a right-back for the Reds since his huge money move from the South Coast to the Red half of Merseyside.

In all preseason games that he has featured in so far, his starting position, whether from the get go or coming on as a substitute, has been on the left side of the defense. 

As he is still in the honey-moon phase of his marriage to Liverpool, he has sought not to make a fuss and towed the "what's good for the team" and "I'll play wherever the Boss asks me to" lines.

The current injury to Fabio Aurelio and Rafa's lack of confidence in Dossena coupled with the inexperience of Insúa, as talented as he may be, has meant that Johnson has been forced out to the left side. And still, not entirely unfamiliar with the position, he has put in a series of commendable performances.

While seemingly a little short at left-back, Rafa certainly does not have that problem with Johnson's favoured position.

With Johnson, Rafa could also choose from Arbeloa, Deggen and Darby. This may suggest that Johnson might see quite a bit of the left side of the defense this season. Whether this is something that Johnson is happy with, remains to be seen.

From a Liverpool point of view, it will be their hunt for silverware and particularly their assault on the title that will be their main focus and if Johnson's impact on that comes from left-back, then so be it.

However, with the World Cup coming up at the end of the upcoming season, Johnson is going to want to solidify his designation as England's first choice right-back and will, before long, want to actually play that position.

For now though, Johnson appears to be bedding in nicely into what looks like it could be a solid defense, with great attacking potential.