Do Liverpool have any weaknesses? If so, what are they? Despite their recent blip in form, it is a frequent thought among Premier League clubs. And during this period of isolation, it would not be far fetched to think that is one of the things being most analysed.
Trent Alexander-Arnold Vital to Liverpool’s Attack
Providing Creativity
One area that has been pointed out as a potential weakness is Liverpool’s lack of midfield creativity. While the likes of Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Naby Keita and James Milner provide a relentless work rate off the ball in pressing opposing teams in a midfield three, they are not known for their ability to consistently contribute in an attacking sense. If anything, Jurgen Klopp’s midfield has proven to be one-dimensional, and previously unsuccessful attempts to bring in Nabil Fekir and Dani Ceballos suggest that the Liverpool boss would like something different, at least as an option.
Yet evidence suggests that Klopp does not need creativity in his midfield and that is due to the impact of his two full-backs, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson. While the midfield is the focal point to Liverpool’s intense, pressing game, the role of the two full-backs has been to provide the creative side to their attacking game. It is an uncommon ploy but is also synonymous with the imperative role that full-backs now play in the modern game.
Alexander-Arnold, in particular, is now a vital member of Liverpool’s attacking game. He has recorded 12 assists in the top flight this season, second only Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and the joint-most of any defender in the history of the Premier League, drawing level with his tally from last season. He has also chipped in with two goals himself.
A Huge Influence
The impressive numbers don’t end there, either. Trent Alexander-Arnold has created 16 big chances this season – second only to De Bruyne, once again – and the most from any defender, by a distance. What’s more, no player has had more touches of the ball than his 2,983, while he has also played the second most key passes (75) of any Premier League player in 2019/20. To emphasise his importance, no other Liverpool player has reached 50 in that metric.
“In the best team in Europe, the best playmaker is a right-back from West Derby,” said Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher. “It’s mad. It’s strange. I have never seen a full-back have such an influence on a team before.”
“Sometimes you get carried away talking about a player,” said Carragher. “But when you think about the best in that position – I’m talking about Cafu and Dani Alves – they were world-class in that position. He is actually running the game from full-back. What makes him special is that it is like having Kevin De Bruyne at right-back. It’s like having a midfield player at right-back.”
Gary Neville has also been hugely impressed with Alexander-Arnold. “What staggers me about Liverpool is that he doesn’t have two big strikers he is going to hit and they are going to get loads of headed goals,” he told Sky Sports. “He has the likes of Mane, Salah and Wijnaldum in there and they score headers from his crosses, he is that good. His quality is out of this world.”
As Neville mentions, the quality that Alexander-Arnold possesses also makes him stand out. For a player still only 21-years-old, the technique he delivers from his crosses on the right-hand side and in his set-pieces is an astonishing part of his game. It is no wonder that he is Liverpool’s go-to set-piece taker and that no team has scored more headed goals in the Premier League this season than the Reds (15).
Should Trent Alexander-Arnold Change Positions?
The level of Alexander-Arnold’s current performances raises the thought of whether Liverpool could get even more out of him. Is a move to midfield on the cards and would he be even more effective from that position? Carragher does not think so.
“A lot of people have said that about him moving into midfield but I am not sure he would create more there than what he is creating now,” he added. “What you find when you play as a full-back is that you are always the out-ball. The full-back is normally on so you often get that time to get your head up and pick somebody out. I think sometimes in midfield, there is somebody on you all the time.”
“Unless Liverpool get a right full-back who is on the level of him, then you might say that Liverpool maybe do miss somebody with Kevin De Bruyne’s passing ability in midfield and you might think about it. But what he is doing right now, I would not dream of moving him.”
While the potential for Trent Alexander-Arnold to be even more deadly than he is now is huge, the underlying point is that what Liverpool are currently doing works. This side already has a Champions League title under its belt and is on the verge of winning their first league title for 30 years.
What is even more undisputed, however, is Alexander-Arnold’s impact on this Liverpool team. As well as being an impressive defender, he is now an outstanding attacking full-back that is proving to be more effective than some of Europe’s finest creative players. And there is a sense that he is only going to get better.
Main Photo:
