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End Of An Era: Full-Back Duo Splits – Where Do They Rank?

End Of An Era: Full-Back Duo Splits - Where Do They Rank?

It’s the end of an era for Liverpool.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold joining Real Madrid and new signing Milos Kerkez placing Andy Robertson’s spot in danger, one of the Premier League’s great full-back combinations is over.

Summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen Jeremie Frimpong is likely to start at right-back next season, opposite Kerkez, with Robertson being heavily linked with a move away from Anfield.

But Liverpool’s new-look full-back pairing will have to do very well to make a fraction of the impact Alexander-Arnold and Robertson have had.

So just how good were they as a combo?
Alexander-Arnold and Robertson played together on 279 occasions – an average of 35 games a season in all competitions in their eight seasons together.

And each of them only played more games with Mohamed Salah.

Robertson joined from Hull City for £8m in 2017-18 with Alexander-Arnold, an academy product, having made his debut the season before.

They won 185 of those 279 games, losing 43 times.

The two full-backs played attacking roles in former boss Jurgen Klopp’s high-energy football – and had a hand in nearly unprecedented numbers of goals.

In isolation their assist hauls would be remarkable but the fact they were both doing it at the same time is even more amazing.

In March 2019 Alexander-Arnold told the BBC: “We both thrive off each other’s performances.

“We have got a competition between ourselves this season to see who gets more goals and assists. It’s a healthy competition.”

Only on 10 occasions in Premier League history has a defender created 10 or more goals in a Premier League season – and Alexander-Arnold and Robertson have each done it three times.

In 2019-20 they assisted 25 goals between them.

They are the top two assisting Premier League defenders ever – with 64 for Alexander-Arnold and 60 for Robertson.

They are some way clear, with Leighton Baines (53) and Graeme le Saux (44) the only others to set up more than 40.

In all positions, only ex-Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, Reds team-mate Salah and Tottenham forward Son Heung-min assisted more goals since the full-backs linked up in 2017-18.

They feature second and third on the list of most chances created by Premier League defenders (since Opta started to record that data in 2003-04).

Alexander-Arnold created 516 chances, with 446 for Robertson – both featuring in the top 10 in all positions since 2017-18.

The now-retired Baines tops that list for defenders with 635 chances created.

But Baines played 420 games in the English top flight for Wigan and Everton over 14 years – Robertson has played 308, including his time at Hull, and Alexander-Arnold 251.

And it is not just the assists, the pair were undroppable players in the most successful Liverpool team since the 1980s.

As well as a 66% win rate together, they won two Premier League titles, plus the Champions League, the FA Cup and two League Cups.

Who are some other iconic full-back combinations?
There have been plenty of other iconic full-back partnerships – so we want you to tell us the best one.

Here are a few you can select from – and if your favourites are missing tell us in the comments at the bottom of this page.

Roberto Carlos and Cafu (Brazil)

Left-back Roberto Carlos and right-back Cafu were absolutely iconic parts of the Brazil team in the 1990s and 2000s.

Bombing down each flank they won the 2002 World Cup and the Copa America twice.

They were club team-mates briefly too, playing together for Palmeiras in 1995.

Paolo Maldini and Mauro Tassotti (AC Milan)

Maldini, who could play at left-back and in central defence, and right-back Tassotti were members of one of football’s most memorable defences.

The pair flanked Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta for the all-conquering AC Milan side of the 1980s and 1990s.

They won three European Cups together, five Serie A titles and famously had a 58-game unbeaten run in the league from May 1991 to March 1993.

In total Maldini and Tassotti played together 328 times for Milan between 1985 and 1997. In the 1993-94 season Milan only conceded 25 goals in all competitions.

They also played four times together for Italy, including at the 1994 World Cup.

Denis Irwin and Gary Neville (Man Utd)

Republic of Ireland left-back Irwin and England right-back Neville played together on 231 occasions for Manchester United.

They were regular team-mates between 1994 and 2002, at which stage Irwin went to Wolves.

The pair won five Premier League titles together under Sir Alex Ferguson and played in the 1999 Champions League final win over Bayern Munich.

Marcelo and Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)

Attacking Brazil left-back Marcelo and battling Spain right-back Carvajal linked up to win five Champions League titles together for Real Madrid between 2014 and 2022.

They played 209 times together, and also won three La Liga titles, plus various other competitions.

Bbc.com

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Premier League

Tosin Focused On FIFA Club World Cup Final

Tosin Focused On FIFA Club World Cup Final

When Tosin Adarabioyo moved along the Thames to join Chelsea from Fulham in the summer of 2024, the defender issued the reasons explaining why he’d signed for the Blues.

Simply, he said he wanted to help the Blues move ‘in the direction we want to go’. To put it plainly, the defender wanted to add silverware to his CV.

Fast forward to May 2025 and Tosin was on the pitch in Wroclaw, Poland. A wide smile etched on his face, celebrating with his team-mates in front of the travelling Chelsea fans as we lifted the Conference League trophy. He’d delivered on his promise.

However, there’s still the opportunity for move silverware and as Tosin chats to us ahead of Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final, where we will face PSG, the defender is full of enthusiasm as he contemplates the thought of adding another trophy to his collection.

‘It’s fantastic to reach the final and we’re all looking forward to it,’ the Chelsea No.4 stated, with a beaming smile. ‘We’ve been focused throughout the tournament and we’ve got one huge game left to go now, which we’ll give our all for.

‘For us, it’s an amazing position to be in to play against teams all over the world. That’s what football’s about, bringing different countries all together and we’re happy to do that and be in the final.

‘This has been an amazing competition and it’s a big achievement for us to be in the final. But we know the work isn’t done yet and we’ll be giving it our all on Sunday.’

At 27, Tosin stands as one of the elder statesmen in Enzo Maresca’s squad. Saying that before he is even remotely close to hitting 30 feels slightly strange, but it’s a role the defender has embraced and understands he is required to be a ‘leader’ to his younger team-mates.

The former Fulham man has explained how he helps the other players in the squad, while also revealing one of the secrets to our success in the States – hard work combined with planned downtime and squad bonding.

‘It’s a strange one really!’ Tosin said of being one of the experienced heads in the dressing room. ‘I’m only 27, but I’m one of the most senior players in the team.

‘We’ve got a really talented young squad, with some amazing players and I just try to help and offer advice and guidance to the lads where I can.

‘Our minds have been set on getting to the final and the gaffer’s [Enzo Maresca] been great, giving us some downtime wherever we’ve been. We’ve done a lot of travelling in this tournament, so I think being able to do that has been really beneficial for us.

‘Joao’s settled in really well and we can see every day in training how talented he is.’

‘We’ve been able to have the right time to forget about football a little bit and just focus on enjoying our times together and that’s what we’ve done.’

Joao Pedro’s two goals in the semi-final against Fluminense on his full debut were what helped us secure our place in the final against the reigning Champions League holders, PSG, and Tosin spoke in glowing terms on how the Brazilian forward has settled in since completing his switch from Brighton.

‘Joao’s settled in really well and his two goals in the semi-final were both incredible,’ added the defender. ‘You can see that he’s got amazing quality and will really add something to the group.

‘We’re really pleased he’s here with us in America, helping the team and as I said he’s settled into the group so well already.’

With one step left to go, Tosin will hope victory on Sunday will ensure the celebrations in America eclipse those experienced in Poland.

Chelseafc.com

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Premier League

Gunners Close In On Chelsea’s Madueke

Gunners Close In On Chelsea's Madueke

It is expected that England international Madueke will provide competition to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli in Arsenal’s wide areas.

Chelsea forward Noni Madueke is on the brink of a £50million move to Arsenal – becoming Mikel Arteta’s fourth signing of the summer.

It is expected that England international Madueke will provide competition to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli in Arsenal’s wide areas.

Madueke’s proposed move across London has been met with criticism by Arsenal supporters on social media.

However, the PA news agency has been told that a fee, which could exceed £50m with performance-related add-ons, has all but been agreed with Chelsea, while the 23-year-old is keen to make the move.

Madueke, who made the switch to Stamford Bridge from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, would follow Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga – who also joined from Chelsea – and Christian Norgaard in moving to the Emirates this summer.

Madueke scored 11 times for Chelsea across all competitions last season and was rewarded with his first senior international appearances under England interim manager Lee Carsley and his permanent successor Thomas Tuchel.

Arsenal are still in the market for a new striker, with Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres believed to be top of the list.

The PA news agency has approached Arsenal and Chelsea for comment.

Irishexaminer.com

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Premier League

Premier League Taps Adobe For Fan Revamp

Premier League Taps Adobe For Fan Revamp

The English Premier League has teamed up with tech giant Adobe in a multi-year partnership that promises to revolutionise how fans interact with the beautiful game online.

The deal sees Adobe become the league’s official digital fan experience and creativity partner – a move that signifies modern football’s relentless march towards personalised, AI-driven content.

Come August and the start of the new 2025-26 campaign, punters will find Adobe Express technology woven into the Premier League’s digital ecosystem. The integration promises to “give fans new ways to create and share Premier League content, and enhance their digital and Fantasy Premier League experience.”

Fantasy Premier League has become nothing short of a national obsession in England. What started as a bit of fun between mates has exploded into a phenomenon played by millions across the UK, with office bragging rights and pub debates hanging on every captain’s armband decision.

The real kicker, no pun intended is Adobe’s Firefly AI service, which will let Fantasy managers design their own kits and badges. A big change from the current format where managers are given a standard template.

Will Brass, the Premier League’s chief commercial officer, was bullish about the tie-up: “Adobe is a global leader in digital experiences and creativity, and this exciting partnership provides us with the tools to better understand and deliver what our fans need and want digitally, ensuring we can provide the best of the Premier League directly to them.”

This Adobe announcement follows hot on the heels of the league’s five-year strategic partnership with Microsoft, struck earlier this month. That deal sees Microsoft’s ‘Copilot’ AI integrated across the Premier League’s digital platforms, powered by Azure OpenAI technology. Fans will get instant access to player stats, team data, and historical competition information through the official app and websites, complete with multi-language translations.

It’s another sign of how the Premier League continues to flex its commercial muscles in the digital space, staying miles ahead of its European rivals when it comes to fan engagement technology.

Adobe isn’t putting all its eggs in one sporting basket either. The company expanded its NFL partnership in late April with a similar arrangement, while in English football, they’re already the title sponsor of the Women’s FA Cup – a deal GlobalData Sport values at £1 million annually through the 2025-26 season.

Insideworldfootball.com

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