Liverpool full-backs Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold continue to excel every time they take the pitch.

The duo are vital cogs in Jurgen Klopp’s machine and any side looking to get the better of the Anfield outfit have to work out how to stop them.

Ahead of today’s clash with Brighton, we look at why the Reds pair are so good, and assess who is the better of the two. 

Setting the standard

Since Robertson, 28, and Alexander-Arnold, 23, established themselves as the Merseysiders' first-choice full-backs, they have been nothing short of outstanding.

A threat in every game they play, the duo have helped Liverpool to Champions League, Premier League and most recently Carabao Cup glory.

Former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic labelled them as the best in the world following last Saturday’s 1-0 win over the Hammers.

Bilic said: "They are great. I mean they are playmakers as full-backs.

"The way they pass the ball, the decisions they are making, the balls through the lines. It’s unbelievable because when the opponent is pressing you, they let the ball go wide.

"And to have the privilege to have wide players, playmakers, who can play great balls — not just balls to the midfield but brilliant balls to your strikers that these two are doing week in, week out for four years.

"They are the best pair of full-backs in modern football."

Best of friends

There is little doubt the duo thrive off the friendly competition they have between each other.

Just this week, Liverpool posted a video of them playing against each other in a training game where the objective was for the ball not to bounce.

While everyone else quietly went about their business, Robertson celebrated with a full knee slide after getting the better of Alexander-Arnold.

After the Hammers game, Robertson said: "We have a friendly competition but if both of us are contributing and helping the team win games then that is the most important thing."

Playmakers

In 2017, Kop hero Jamie Carragher famously said "nobody grows up wanting to be Gary Neville".

His point was more that full-back is an unfashionable position and not somewhere players dream of playing.

But Robertson and Alexander-Arnold have been at the forefront of changing that.

This season alone, the England right-back has 17 assists already and the Scot has 12 — making them Liverpool's first and second leading providers.

Alexander-Arnold has created 95 chances for the Reds — 30 more than Mohamed Salah in second, who in turn is the only other player ahead of Robertson on 63.

On the England international, Neville recently said: "He's the best passer of a footballer I've ever seen from full-back. Ever.

"He's David Beckham and Kevin De Bruyne at right-back. It's unbelievable what he does."

Sticking to the day job

If Alexander-Arnold is the bigger threat going forward, there is little doubting that Robertson loves the defensive side of the game more.

After keeping West Ham at bay, he said: "Clean sheets are so important — that is what we base ourselves on."

The Scot makes more tackles, more clearances, wins more headers and, unsurprisingly, commits more fouls than the younger right-back as a result.

Despite often being criticised for his defensive work, Alexander-Arnold makes more interceptions and wins the ball back more in every third of the pitch.

And his boss often dismisses the notion that he struggles in that regard, especially after a brilliant goal-line clearance denied David Moyes' side an equaliser.

Klopp said: "Does it surprise me? Yes. Absolutely, I don’t understand that,"

"But I don’t think that will change with whatever I say tonight. If he couldn’t defend, he couldn’t play. At least not in this position."

Who is better?

Picking out who is more important to Liverpool is not an easy task.

They would miss Alexander-Arnold’s production going forward and Robertson’s defensive work at the other end.

Given Robertson is five years older than his counterpart, it is probably fair to say the Englishman’s ceiling is higher.

Parachuted into the Reds’ side at such a young age, Alexander-Arnold continues to improve and has another decade at the top level.

Though Ashley Young (71) is statistically the Premier League defender to have provided most assists, the majority of those came during his time as a winger, with Leighton Baines (53) the true leader among out-and-out defenders. 

This time next year, the smart money is on Robertson (48) and Alexander-Arnold (44) both overtaking the former Everton stalwart.

And though Robertson might claim the record first, Alexander-Arnold is perfectly placed to head the list for a long time yet.

The Scot will go down as a Liverpool great, but his Scouse team-mate is likely to be considered one of the world’s best by the time he hangs up his boots.