One of Jurgen Klopp’s most distinctive tactical ideas at Liverpool was the way he used his full-backs.
At their very best, the right and left-back in Klopp’s team were two of the most dangerous players on the pitch.
More often than not, this was Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right and Andy Robertson on the left.
Between them, the pair have redefined the way full-backs are seen throughout European football. Their legacy will live on far beyond their careers.
With all due respect to Robertson, it is Alexander-Arnold who captures the imagination a little more in this respect. The academy graduate has drawn comparisons to some of the biggest names in football history.
Roberto Carlos picks between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cafu
As far as full-back partnerships go, you’d have to say that Alexander-Arnold and Robertson are now one of the most well known around.
The pair are good friends off the field and have won everything together during seven years at Anfield. Hopefully there’s more to come, too.
But whatever they achieve together, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to match the legacy left by the most distinguishable full-back pair of all time: Brazilian duo Roberto Carlos and Cafu.
Although Carlos and Cafu never played together at club level, they were supreme for the Brazilian national team. The best right-back and left-back in the world for years, they led Brazil to two World Cup finals, winning one.
So, when Carlos was asked by GOAL this week to compare full-backs against Cafu, it was no surprise to see him pick his old mate more often than not.
Having already claimed Cafu to be better than Marcelo, Philip Lahm, Ashley Cole, Kyle Walker and a few more legendary names besides, Robertson’s name flashes up on the screen. “Cafu,” says Carlos confidently.
A few seconds later, and it’s Alexander-Arnold’s turn to go head-to-head with the World Cup winning captain.
“Carmaba! Alexander-Arnold is a very good player, but in the history it’s Cafu,” says Carlos.
Will Trent Alexander-Arnold stay at Liverpool?
In some ways, we actually disagree with Carlos. Trent could do what Cafu does and more.
He was never as defensively solid as the former AC Milan man, that’s true. But he gives you so much more otherwise.
As Paul Merson said recently, Alexander-Arnold is currently ‘a million miles ahead’ of everyone else in the full-back game.
Nevertheless, that is not the big question surrounding Alexander-Arnold at the moment. Instead, we’re all waiting to see whether or not he signs a new contract.
The expectation so far seems to be that Trent will sign on for more years at Anfield.
If he does not though, Real Madrid are reportedly circling. Should he ever move to the Bernabeu, we think former Madrid man Carlos might change his tune on this one a few years down the line.
Let’s hope we never have to find that out.