Arguably, Liverpool’s most iconic player was a scouser; it was a player who took the game by the scruff of the neck to drag the side to victory. That player, of course, was Steven Gerrard: The man who inspired the future of the club; who offered Trent Alexander-Arnold the realisation that his Liverpool dream can become a reality.
Now, in similar circumstances, it is scouse-born Alexander-Arnold leading by example to drag Liverpool through a torrid time.
In the derby defeat to Everton, one highlight was Alexander-Arnold’s fight and determination to battle until the last minute. In the end, his battling performance wasn’t enough. Against Sheffield United, that wasn’t the case.
Instead, Alexander-Arnold’s determination was matched by his teammates as he led by example. He was the driving force. He, the scouser in the team, was the one who set the tempo- both offensively and defensively.
It was a performance of leadership from a 22-year-old academy graduate who knows what it means to take to the pitch in the famous colours of Liverpool.
Alexander-Arnold: Leading by Example to Drag Liverpool Back to Winning Ways
Defensive Improvement
Amid an unbelievable season last year, in which he assisted 15 goals, many were quick to criticise Alexander-Arnold’s defensive side. And whilst he has still shown signs of weakness in that area this season, improvement has been made.
Against Sheffield United, for example, he set the tone in an astute defensive performance- completing the second most amount of tackles, the most amount of tackles, kept a clean sheet and was not dribbled past once. The stats do the talking for him in a game he was next to Liverpool’s 14th centre-back pairing of the Premier League season.
Offensively, he was back to his best, too. In total, he completed the most passes in the game, most chances created and, an assist in classic Alexander-Arnold fashion to top off a complete performance.
Liverpool’s history has featured several academy graduates leading by example. Now, Alexander-Arnold looks to be the next in line to take the burden of leadership.
Curtis Jones Becoming Influential Figure
Like Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones is leading by example in midfield and offering Liverpool something they have missed since Philippe Coutinho’s departure: Goals from midfield.
In previous seasons, the over-reliance on the front three to produce has not been a problem. As the forwards have faltered this season, the need to find other goalscoring outlets has become a growing concern.
Yet, up stepped 20-year-old Curtis Jones. Thiago Alcantara and Georginio Wijnaldum offer Liverpool the balance needed, the recycling of the ball needed. But, they fail to directly have an influence on goals. This is something Jones brings to the table in a far more free role to those previously mentioned.
Against Sheffield United, in this free role, he once again paid dividends with the opening goal. As the front three failed to produce, for the most part, Jones stepped up to take the goalscoring burden- making those late runs from deep.
It was a much-needed win for Liverpool to stop the rot of a winless run in the Premier League. But, it was also a game in which the scousers led by example when needed most.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
