Trent Alexander-Arnold is the star man for Liverpool. Whilst playing in his new position in the middle of the pitch he has scored a late winner against Fulham and a late equaliser against Manchester City.
He is becoming ever more influential, both on and off the pitch. This time last year he was an unused squad player in England’s World Cup campaign, now he’s one of the country’s most creative midfielders.
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Liverpool writer James Pearce, Senior Football correspondent Oli Kay, and Data Analyst Mark Carey to chart Trent Alexander-Arnold’s evolution.
Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro – Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance against Fulham
2:00 – How Alexander-Arnold becoming more influential for Liverpool
20:55 – Alexander-Arnold as a brand, as a figurehead
27:30 – Can Liverpool sustain a title charge?
33:00 – Where does Alexander-Arnold fit in for England
39:00 – Outro – Is Trent a midfielder full-time now?
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44 Comments
The difference between local lads Trent and Rashford is night and day
Rebuilt him? It’s always been clear that he’s not the best defender but his technical passing & football brain is one of the best in the game at the moment. Moving him to somewhere on the pitch where he doesn’t have to defend seems bloody obvious – can’t believe that it’s taken this long tbh.
If it was off target and only went in because it bounced off Leno, then it’s a Leno own goal. Simple as that. End of.
I don’t understand what the problem is here. Whether you “hate it when that happens” is completely and utterly meaningless, immaterial and irrelevant, to be blunt.
Those are the rules of the game.
He's not a different player, he has the same strengths – range of passing, crossing, set piece delivery etc that hes always had. Likewise, he also has the same weaknesses – defensive positioning/awareness, one v one defending, aerial ability. Like any good manager, Klopp has found a role that makes more out of his strengths and mitigates some of his weaknesses.
Happy to see Mark Carey is no longer stuck in a scattergram
Trent is not a bad out and out defender. He is a good defender but not great. He has to stretch himself to get back and cover much more than most other right backs. That makes his role harder. But hes not a bad defender and seems to be improving lately.
Are we now in the Age of Trent?
I’m glad Mark Carey managed to escape from that scattergram!
Oli been on a 4-day bender?
If you think about it, Trent is as good if not better operating in the midfield as KDB – passes, absolute worldies from outside the box, and even better excellent free kicks.
one thing i'll never do is question klopp, he's bought him to this stage, he knows how to use him.
Losing Firmino's game intelligence has made scoring seem a lot more difficult this season.
Bobby was a master at leading the press and creating chances from nothing.
Having played so much together maybe they're looking at Trent as the new Firmino on the front foot and Fabinho on the back foot? He's genuinely good enough to switch roles in game. Play Gomez on the left once we take the lead to double up when defending the space that gets targeted behind hm.
Trent is already playing midfield in position. Put Trent in midfield, what we do with Macca, Dom, Ryan, Curtis and Elliot ? We will always have 2 of these options and not three. Trent in addition to Any 3 while in position is a plus.
Trent is already playing midfield in position. Put Trent in midfield, what we do with Macca, Dom, Ryan, Curtis and Elliot ? We will always have 2 of these options and not three. Trent in addition to Any 3 while in position is a plus.
Trent. 😍😍😍
He's not just the best right back in the world. He's the best midfielder.
Good guy pearce
There’s something different this season, he’s never been this confident. I can see him being on stevie’s level when he retires
Good to see Mark has escaped from the scattergram!
39:00 no James, a number 6 has to know how to defend and we all know Trent doesn't defend. Trent is an 8/10 and he should play there, but if we are using him there, he should get used to being rotated with Szoboslai, Jones and Gravenberch. we have so many midfielders now that are all good. Trent will not be an automatic starter in that 8 role and he can't defend so he can't play as a 6. So if Klopp wants trent to play, we need to change formation, maybe 3 at the back, 4 midfielders and 3 attackers.
Its almost like seasons and careers have ups and downs and every video you do is just overstating those peaks and troughs and pretending they're significant!
What is this narrative, everywhere? They've conceded less than City and lost fewer games than City but no one talks about City's defense being pourous. City did fuck all against Liverpool, as well. All this rubbish narrative is really strange.
Oli missed the part where Szoboszlai goes wide and Mo inverts? He doesn't stay wide? Slightly deeper maybe but he doesn't stay wide.
Klopp really doesn't like James Pearce does he lol
people forget trent was NEVER a defender all his youth he played in mid… he only played there once he got to the first team.
I think its an athletic problem.
Trent is a pure footballer. If you're to list his top 10 attributes i dont think any of them would be an aspect of athleticism.
Most wingers are the opposite, their athletic attributes are far greater than their footballing ones.
Couple being slower than your opponent with having more ground to make up due to his role/ team system and he's going to look horrible and get burned.
His actual defensive metrics arent bad at all,, infact they're actually pretty good, especially at the 2nd level in temrs of interceptions, challenge %, pressures etc.
He just lacks the out and out athleticism required of a modern
day full back.
Becasue quite frankly he isnt one.
He's a midfielder who can and has done (more than) a job in the role.
Patiently waiting for the day he gets unleashed in the middle of the park properly, so we can all enjoy his true talent and potential.
Seeing Trent in this new role reminds me of when I heard House music for the first time in the late 1980s.
Why not just play him in midfield. He's not interested or good at defending! He could have taken that free kick playing innany position. Also the opposition now target the space at right back when he wanders off in midfield which causes all kind of mayhem for liverpool. We only beat fulham by scoring spectacular goals, but base on probability of those special goals going in…on another day that would have been a lost to fulham.
He cut his hair ✂️ that’s the secret
Trent and Klopp are creating an entirely new position where the holding midfielder now sits at RB,RM,RDM
Trent is still very much abused by rival fans
LIVERPOOL ARE NOW OFFICIALLY TRENT ALEXANDER ARNOLD FC. 40+ MINUTES OF IN-DEPTH PODCAST ANALYSIS BY RANDOM ATHLETIC FOOTBALL WATCHERS 👌
Y'all remember early last season before pep figured out his 3-2 buildup he tried running out Bernardo silva at fullback? I feel like there's a parallel universe where Trent is a silva-level free 8
It's insane how the media is criticising trent the am9unt of criticism he's getting as opposed to some of the players in top4 , walker trent tripper prowse and harvey barnes and saka are the best English English players compared to France
The Athletic been killing these articles lately! What I will point out is that Salah has also adjusted to what the system requires. Also writers and pundits need to also recognize that football transitions and teams adjust very quickly to what football style is. That system worked for a while with the midfield we had. Now, it’s more creative and very young so mistakes will be made but they’re so much better with ball control and transitioning.
Mark,
A quality player can do both from deep or assisting and from most areas of the pitch.
I'm still so tired of stats guys ruining the nature of football.
Liverpool have the joint lowest goals against in the league (14, tied with Arsenal)…. but all you ever hear anyone saying is how terrible they are at defending.
I miss Chappers
Are we really saying international football is the highest level? Would England beat Man City.
Before you list out players think about the coaches…
Thomas Trent-Darby looks great for his age.
England midfield should be Rice, Trent & Jude imo
i’m happy we have players like dom macca and gravenberch now but i low-key wish we didn’t sign one of them and instead sign a right back and put trent in midfield. He’s proven this season that he can play in midfield fully rather than just inverting and whilst at times it would be better to have him and another 3 midfielders i think against top teams i’d rather him in midfield over macca or gravenberch as an 8 and someone more solid behind him. I wanted to see this with gomez at right back but gomez hasn’t impressed me at all this season he’s not much better than trent defensively and he’s terrible on the ball, if he wasn’t quick he’d have nothing to his game
So maybe – lets carry on getting him into positions where he can pass it into the goal!
Oliver Kay is such a grey individual
Looks/sound and exudes misery. Get a dog man