Legend ends: Robertson and Arnold, the best full-back duo in the Premier League, come to an end

With Trent Alexander-Arnold officially moving to Real Madrid and Andrew Robertson also likely to leave Anfield, the most dominant full-back combination in Premier League history has officially come to an end.

During their eight years at Liverpool, they supported the team's wing attack and defense together, and also rewritten the definition of defenders in modern football. Now, new players such as Frimpong and Kerkezi have taken over the banner of the wing, but everyone knows that they have a long way to go if they want to replicate the influence of this combination .

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson won Liverpool's  two Premier League titles together

⚔️ From obscurity to the Red Army's wings: their story

In 2017, Robertson joined from Hull City for a mere £8 million ; in the same year, Liverpool youth product Alexander-Arnold made his debut.

Since the start of the 2017-18 season, the two have played 279 games together and won 185 games, with a winning rate of 66%. They fit perfectly with coach Klopp's high-pressure system and raised the "offensive attributes" of full-backs to a whole new level.

Their style is never just about passing or running in, but rather " a key source of creativity within the overall structure ".

📈The data doesn’t lie: historical performance

They are not only Liverpool's offensive weapon, but also the "assist machine" in the entire history of the Premier League:

• Alexander-Arnold : 64 Premier League assists

• Andy Robertson : 60 Premier League assists

This achievement makes them the two defenders with the most assists in Premier League history - higher than famous full-backs such as Baines (53) and Le Saux (44).

They also achieved 10+ assists in a single Premier League season three times each, and contributed 25 assists together in the 2019-20 season.

also:

• Alexander-Arnold chances created (2017-present): 516

• Robertson: 446

• They are the second and third- highest defenders for chances created since Opta records began , behind only Baines (635) but in far fewer appearances.

🏆Not just data - it's a synonym for glory

This duo isn't just stat-spinners -- they're the foundation of a championship team .

During their time with Liverpool they won:

• Premier League Champion ×2

• UEFA Champions League ×1

• English FA Cup × 1

• League Cup ×2

• Club World Cup, European Super Cup × 1 each

In the Premier League, which is full of strong opponents, fast-paced and physically confrontational, they continue to perform at a high level and are the benchmark for modern all-round full-backs .

🌍Historical status assessment: Are they on par with the legends?

When assessing their place in history, we have to compare them to some other iconic full-back duos:

Roberto Carlos and Cafu played together for Brazil 91 times

Paolo Maldini and Mauro Tassotti played together for Italy at the 1994 World Cup - but 328 of their 332 games in the same team were for AC Milan

Neville spent his whole career at Manchester United, while Irwin also played for Leeds, Oldham and Wolves

Marcelo left Madrid in 2022 while Carvajal is still there

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Comment:
Arnold and Robertson may not be as "global idols" as the Brazilian wingers, nor as classic as the defensive masters like Maldini, but based on the triple standards of data, performance and honors , they are undoubtedly among the top five full-back combinations in history .

🧤What's the future?

With Arnold heading to the Bernabeu to pursue a new challenge, Robertson is very likely to follow, and Liverpool's "Red Wings Era" has come to an end.

New signings Frimpong and Kerkez have talent and speed, but they need to go further to replicate the former's dominance. Liverpool also have to adapt to the changes in play brought about by the new full-back combination.

✍️Conclusion: Not just a full-back, but a memory of the times

In the hearts of Liverpool fans, Arnold and Robertson are not only the left and right wings, but also the synonyms of passion, glory and tactical innovation in the Klopp era. They have given the position of "full-back" more dimensions and made Liverpool one of the most exciting teams in world football.

Today, times have changed, and their legends will shine forever in history.