Trent Alexander-Arnold (23 years old) is living a golden age at Liverpool, but he is not safe from criticism. His defensive oversights have ignited his detractors on more than one occasion, who miss more positional discipline on the part of the full-back, focused on the attack. So far in the campaign Alexander-Arnold has managed two goals and 20 assistsso his offensive contribution is beyond any doubt: his vision of the game, his hit from set pieces and his climbs down the right flank represent one of Liverpool’s great strengths in attack, which, however, has suffered more than defense account.
The back of the English side is a claim for the rival extremes and a reason for nervousness for Jurgen Kloppwho has him as one of his favorite players and who in mid-March commented: “The next time I hear a critic of Alexander-Arnold, I’ll knock him out.”. But it is not the first time that doubts hang over the side, which Last season he suffered attacks from Vinicius in Valdebebas.
It was the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals and the Brazilian winger ended up scoring two goals starting from Alexander-Arnold’s wing, who a season later suffered from Konaté’s lack of attention. A right-footed centre-back in good condition, but messy, which prevents him from covering the English full-back’s back with sufficient success.
The calendar, another enemy for Liverpool
If there is a precocious footballer in England, it is Alexander-Arnold. The Liverpool right-back lifted the FA Cup two weeks ago and became, at 23 years and 219 days, the youngest Englishman to win every possible title. A circumstance that did not go unnoticed by the Premier public, always eager for records. But Alexander-Arnold’s season goes beyond records…
The Reds have played every game possible this season, and precisely that accumulation of games has taken its toll on Liverpool’s players, including Alexander-Arnold, who did not play a minute in the penultimate matchday against Southampton, when his team was playing the Premier League. All in order to reserve him for the Champions League final, on May 28. Therefore, it is not surprising that Klopp has taken advantage of many of his press conferences to demand from the FA and UEFA a friendlier calendar with his players, who have arrived exhausted at this “final sprint” of the course.