{"id":538178,"date":"2019-12-12T04:00:02","date_gmt":"2019-12-12T09:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=538178"},"modified":"2019-12-12T05:59:56","modified_gmt":"2019-12-12T10:59:56","slug":"trent-alexander-arnold-is-instrumental-to-liverpools-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/12\/12\/trent-alexander-arnold-is-instrumental-to-liverpools-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Trent Alexander-Arnold is Instrumental to Liverpool’s Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is Liverpool\u2019s<\/a> best player.\u00a0 The 21-year-old scouse fullback is invaluable to the league leaders.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to clarify that \u201cbest\u201d, in this context, does not mean most skilled or talented. These are titles would be inevitably held by defender Virgil Van Dijk<\/a> or winger Mohamed Salah<\/a>. Instead, \u201cbest\u201d refers to most impactful on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n

In this case, Alexander Arnold has no equal. This is a player that impacts Liverpool\u2019s game like no other.<\/p>\n

Trent Alexander-Arnold is Key to Liverpool’s Success<\/h2>\n

‘Scouse Beckham’<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s just before half time in the Merseyside derby when Alexander Arnold picks up the ball. In a blink of an eye, the young fullback runs half the length of the field before he sets up winger Sadio Mane<\/a>. The Senegalese calmly tucks away the chance to make it 4-1 to the Reds.<\/p>\n

Anfield is overjoyed. But for Alexander Arnold, it\u2019s just another showing of his considerable offensive prowess.<\/p>\n

Not many players find themselves in the Guinness Book of World Records. Alexander Arnold is one of those. He was given this award<\/a> for racking up 12 assists last season- the most ever for a defender.<\/p>\n

Some of those assists came from set-pieces where Alexander Arnold excels. He is the primary corner and free-kick taker for the league leaders and it\u2019s easy to see why. His long balls find their mark an impressive 44 percent of the time and his pass accuracy is an impressive 61 percent in the opposition half. Stats<\/a> like that are the reason why many are comparing him to David Beckham<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Even more shockingly, Alexander Arnold is on track to beat his own record. He already has six assists this season and it\u2019s only December.<\/p>\n

In a way, the young man is fulfilling his hero Steven Gerrard<\/a>\u2019s prophecy.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrent Arnold has a terrific chance of making it as a top professional,\u201d Gerrard said of a 16-year-old Alexander Arnold in his autobiography<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019s quite leggy but he\u2019s got a lovely frame and seems to have all the attributes you need.\u201d<\/p>\n

And while many players may have wilted after praise from a club legend like Steven Gerrard, Alexander Arnold is embracing it.<\/p>\n

Top Defender<\/h3>\n

For all his offensive prowess, Alexander Arnold more than holds his own on the defensive end. He never fails to track back and secure the rearguard.<\/p>\n

This season<\/a>, the young man is averaging more than two tackles a game and an interception. He also hasn\u2019t made a single error that has led to a goal. He hardly gets dribbled past and he hasn\u2019t been booked a single time.<\/p>\n

On top of all that, despite not being the biggest, he wins over 60 percent of all his duals.<\/p>\n

Stats like this are part of the reason why manager Jurgen Klopp was so glowing with his praise ahead of the young scousers one-hundredth game.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrent has a mix of personal education, football education, character, skills, attitude, mentality, and he is on top of all that\u201d, Klopp said to reporters<\/a>. \u201cHe is absolutely a scouser in the best understanding. It\u2019s a big task and a big job to be a scouser as a Liverpool player because you are responsible for pretty much everything. So he has all the good things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking Forward<\/h3>\n

At 21-years-old, Alexander Arnold can only get better. He is already Liverpool\u2019s best player. No one has his mix of attacking talent and defensive skills. It may be a clich\u00e9, but the world is truly at this young man\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

\n
Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n