Trent Alexander-Arnold: Liverpool's Midfield Maestro in Waiting
Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose journey has captivated football enthusiasts, remains a cornerstone of Liverpool's squad. Since his debut in 2016, he has made 310 appearances for the Reds, a testament to his enduring influence on the pitch. At 25, Alexander-Arnold is gearing up for Liverpool's 2024-25 campaign, a crucial season for both the player and the club, especially given the buzz around his contract expiring this summer and the tantalizing links to Real Madrid.
Versatility and Evolution
Known primarily as a right-back, Alexander-Arnold's versatility has become increasingly apparent. For England, he has played in midfield in six of his last seven starts, showcasing his adaptability. This trend echoes his formative years; Tim Jenkins, a former analyst and assistant coach for Liverpool's Under-21s, recalls, "He'd played in midfield in Pep Lijnders' Under-16s, at the base of the diamond." Jenkins further mentioned, "He was right in the middle of the pitch and involved in everything."
Alexander-Arnold's progression through Liverpool's ranks saw him adapt to various roles. "When he went into the Under-18s with Neil Critchley, they started to help him use his physical attributes a bit, so he played on the outside as a right winger or a right full-back," noted Jenkins. The transition has been seamless, as evidenced by his performance metrics. In the 2021-22 campaign, his tally of 12 assists was surpassed only by Mohamed Salah, while last season, his average of 5.25 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes ranked in the 99th percentile among full-backs in Europe's top five divisions.
The Modern Full-Back
Jason McAteer, a former Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, and Republic of Ireland player, highlights the evolution of the full-back role. "Today's full-back is a lot more like a wing-back. You've got to get forward. You've got to get balls into the box. And you have this hybrid role where you come into midfield," he explains. McAteer believes Alexander-Arnold embodies this hybrid role perfectly. "Trent has got that many attributes that you've got to get him into the team. You look at Trent now and he's grown up, he's evolved."
McAteer's insights resonate with the statistics. Last season, Alexander-Arnold was in the 99th percentile for expected assisted goals per 90 minutes (0.37) and passes attempted (87.71). His ability to switch play is also noteworthy, ranking third among Premier League outfielders for switches of play (32).
A Midfielder in the Making?
Despite his prowess, questions linger about his defensive capabilities. McAteer comments, "Trent's weakest attribute is his defending, and he was playing as a deep-lying midfielder. He was great on the ball, but without it, he was exposed and became a bit of a scapegoat." Yet, there is a consensus that his attacking skills outweigh these concerns. Jenkins posits, "If you see footage of him playing when he was little, he was basically the same player. You'd see all the driving runs, the physical attributes, his ball-striking and his passing over distance."
Jenkins believes Alexander-Arnold's best position is the hybrid full-back role. "He can be a full-back when you haven't got the ball and a midfielder when you have," he suggests, highlighting Jurgen Klopp's tactical flexibility. "Klopp would say that sometimes Trent will be on the outside, sometimes he'll be on the inside—wherever he is, he's just going to be Trent."
The Road Ahead
As Liverpool prepares for the upcoming season, Alexander-Arnold's role will be pivotal. His absence from Liverpool's tour of America and starting right-back position in the final pre-season friendly against Sevilla hints at a strategic contemplation. Slot, known for favoring a 4-3-3 or 4-2-1-3 formation, may well be envisioning Alexander-Arnold as a central figure in both defense and attack.
With his contract nearing its end and the Real Madrid interest brewing, the next steps in Alexander-Arnold's career will be closely watched. For now, Liverpool fans can rest assured that their homegrown talent remains at the heart of their team's ambitions, ready to adapt, evolve, and inspire.