11 months ago
147 Graeme Souness has suggested that Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold might actually cost the Reds at times this season.
Alexander-Arnold has been widely praised for his performances for Liverpool this season. Playing mainly as a right-back still, Trent has stepped into midfield from that position and even started games in the middle of the park as well.
His efforts in the final third have once again won plaudits. But as usual, defensively, there remain question marks over Alexander-Arnold.
And writing in his latest column for the Daily Mail, Graeme Souness believes that it could actually cost Liverpool against good teams if they play Trent in midfield.
Souness says Alexander-Arnold a problem for Liverpool
Commenting on the Liverpool man, Souness admitted to being concerned about his performances against better sides.
“His defensive skills are not at that same level. Even at right back — a position from which you can often see every other player on the pitch, except your goalkeeper, and have more time to sense danger — he is not always able to anticipate the threat and respond to it in time,” Souness said.
“Against the weaker teams, when Liverpool are dominating the ball, that new midfield role will be perfect for Trent. But against the better teams, I feel there may be a problem for him and his team. In that central part of the pitch, everything is happening faster than anywhere else and your thought processes need to be that much quicker. If you’re not calculating what will happen at full back, where there is more time, then you will certainly find it difficult to do so in the centre — against the stronger sides, at least.”
More to come from Trent
Souness does have a point about adapting to midfield against the very best but so far, Alexander-Arnold looks like he would have no issue in doing that adapting.
He has been so good for Liverpool and England recently that the narrative about his lack of defensive ability is quickly being shut down.
Trent is so effective in the final third that Liverpool and Klopp seem willing to allow for those odd lapses in defensive concentration.
Ultimately, Trent is a key player for Liverpool and a big part of them doing so well this season. Whether it be in midfield or at right-back, he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
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