Topic: Trent Alexander-Arnold

[Zlen]

Already a certain Liverpool legend at 21. Take a bow.

[Harris96]

Showed really strong box to box drives today as well, cutting through the centre which bodes well if we want to play him centre mid 

[Zlen]

I really wish this CM thing would just go away. Boy is the best right back in the world at 21, what is this bloody fascination with losing that?

[Red Eyed]

Had a really big hand in our victory today

[Hazell]

Had a really big hand in our victory today

And unlike Man City's fullbacks, didn't cost an arm and a leg.

[Guz-kop]

I really wish this CM thing would just go away. Boy is the best right back in the world at 21, what is this bloody fascination with losing that?

Not a clue. Our midfield is built in a way to allow him and Robbo to dictate games. And it's incredible that's what they do. Not just technically adept crossers but they often dictate the pace of our game. Struggled a bit defensively when hendo went off but what another superb performance

[Snail]

Absolute filth.

[Jon2lfc]

I was initially slow to cotton on to this lad's potential when he first burst into our first team

but now, i don't think anyone can argue - he's simply a world-class RB, and arguably one of the best in the world in his position

oozes confidence and class - the swagger of youth, with some delicious skill

fast becoming the player i love to watch

[Jon2lfc]

i seriously think one of his personal aims is to win a player of the year award this year by the way he's playing

why not

go for it lad

[So… Howard Philips]

I keep thinking (for 2 years now) that Trent's hands are going to cost us one day. A couple of times he sticks his hands out looking like real obvious intentional handballs but the ref's somehow don't see them... the Roma one in the semi's 2 years ago was the most obvious one. Now, I don't know what one is going to suggest, we can't cut the hand off which offends thee, so we got to teach him how to move those hands somehow. And yeah, I know Silva hands the ball first so it's advantage Liverpool and goal is legit.

Jazz Hands Arnold.

[SerbianScouser]

Loved the couple of amazing runs with the ball he made during the game.

It's a great attacking weapon that creates tons of space, hopefully he'll start running at people regularly from now on.

[Gili Gulu]

That pass with his "wrong" foot out to Robertson who crossed for Salah to score. That was absolutely outrageous skill.  Plus the mentality to try that in such a big game.

I think he might be one of the most naturally talented players we've ever had at the club.

[Crosby Nick]

Loved the couple of amazing runs with the ball he made during the game.

It's a great attacking weapon that creates tons of space, hopefully he'll start running at people regularly from now on.

I want him at right back, I haven’t agreed with the move him into midfield shouts, but that take from Alisson and the way he dribbled at full pelt but under great control was pure Gerrard I thought. As were the couple of balls down the line for Mo, especially the one with the outside of the boot.

PS - keep him at right back though.

[Peabee]

I really wish this CM thing would just go away. Boy is the best right back in the world at 21, what is this bloody fascination with losing that?

It’s crazy. He’s creating so many chances and assists in his current position, why risk changing that. Even the likes of Lineker suggest he should be in midfield. I’m not sure they’re watching our games properly. He’s got a ridiculous amount of assists this calendar year.

And Cafu can fuck off talking about him leaving for a top club next summer. He’s already at one, which is his boyhood club and his ambition is to be captain.

[BarryCrocker]

And Cafu can fuck off talking about him leaving for a top club next summer. He’s already at one, which is his boyhood club and his ambition is to be captain.

Cafu hasn't been the same since he was called the Brazilian Flanagan.

[Broad Spectrum]

Hands down the best right footed full back in World football.

[Ratboy3G]

Just wowww for that pass from his weakfoot. The curve on the cross for Robertson to get moving is pure filth. That goal is just poetic in every sense.

Trent doesn't have a weak foot

[MNAA]

Best right back in the world at 21. Better than Cafu. Can be as good as the great Carlos Alberto. And the scariest part, he is going to get better. That crossover ball to Robertson with his so-called weaker foot was the finest ever. Froze City completely and they only un-freezed after the ball hit the net

Legendary this boy is ...

[jooneyisdagod]

I really wish this CM thing would just go away. Boy is the best right back in the world at 21, what is this bloody fascination with losing that?

Especially since we had to listen to the Steven Gerrard at RB garbage all through his career.

[HelterSkelter]

I really wish this CM thing would just go away. Boy is the best right back in the world at 21, what is this bloody fascination with losing that?

Such low expectations. This lad is going to be one of the best attacking players in the world. Either RB or playing in Jordans position he will be playing in the same location. The difference in being in midfield is that a lot of people don't realise how deadly this lad is going to be in regards to being a goal threat. He is one of the sweetest strikers of a ball I've ever seen, and you cant maximise that talent from RB. The team will always adapt to get the best out of players, our RCM and RB positions are so interchangeable its barely even a move, but watch this lad add goal scoring to his many talents when it does.

There is a lot more to come from this lad, relieve him of the defensive duties, and you will see a whole different side to his game. But that's down the line, I don't see him moving anytime soon. But I would sooner have one of the best attackers in the world than the best right back.

[penga]

That outside of the foot lobbed pass the Salah was more filth on top of the left foot crossfield curler to Robbo. His passes are football porn

[stevensr123]

I really wish this CM thing would just go away. Boy is the best right back in the world at 21, what is this bloody fascination with losing that?

why?

I think it's clear he is a world class central midfielder playing right back. I'm sure if Gerrard was right back he would have also been the best in the world as well.

I think at the moment Trent should stay right back, but his passing and creativity is clearly good enough to transition and  improve with less defensive responsibility. I haven't seen a crosser of the ball like him since Beckham. And his passing is Alonso-like as well.

It's a bit like saying bale should have stuck to being a left back because he was really attacking and probably would have been the best attacking left back in the world.

You just don't hold players back on the long term when talent is that obvously.

That said there is no rush and until we get a player as a "replacement at right back " it won't happen. But it's Soo obvously he has more to give even right now. The guy is dictating our play from a position where it's never really happened before. That is how good he is right now.

[rowan_d]

Bale wasn't a very good leftback though.

[bornandbRED]

Klopp knows best and will ultimately make the call, but for me he doesn’t need to move into CM when he’s so effective and his skill set is so effective at full back. You can have a huge impact from that position - look at the likes of Marcelo and Dani Alves in recent years.

[Hoenheim]

Klopp has crafted the system in such a way that makes him the playmaker at right back, moving him to midfield would mean the system has to change.
Dani Alves in his prime did the same thing from fullback, and he never moved to midfield.

[Abin465]

He is the second coming of Gerrard isn't he?

I dont care if he is called a right back. He is starting to have the same influence over our play that Stevie used to have and that is good enough for me. His decision to pass or run is dictating where his teammates go next. Nobody is calling for him to give up the ball, he makes the play each and every time on his own. He sees and he creates. That outside of the boot chip down the line to Salah took me straight back to the Gerrard days

Just waiting for a couple of screamers to go into the rival net and then the reincarnation would be complete

[Bergersrightwingviews]

Showed really strong box to box drives today as well, cutting through the centre which bodes well if we want to play him centre mid

I would prefer him to stay where he is, but I 100% agree re ball carrying. I have been banging on for ages about how I wanted him to mix it up a bit more and not always go wide and look to cross from deep. He did all sorts yesterday and looked incredibly dangerous all night. He is an incredible talent. 

[boots]

Ball to hand, neither were a peno. Shearer and Crouchy are wrong.

TAA is such a nice lad. Him and Robbo were spraying it round for fun. City deserved to lose and we deserved to win. Sod off Cardilover. TAA is only going to get better. Crazy.

[Roger Federer]

Bale wasn't a very good leftback though.

And an excellent goalscorer too, so it made sense to move him forward.

Maybe Alexander-Arnold could be as well, but if not, I prefer him were he is. We can cleary ”get away” with having him at right back, and since we can, we’re able to field one more attacking player on the pitch. Play Alexander-Arnold in midfield, and we’d have less attacking variation in the team as a whole as there’s no way you can find another right back with his vision, allround qualities and defensive ability.

[na fir dearg]

His confidence and ability seems to increase with every game - at times yesterday he just took the game by the scruff of its neck, gonna be a superstar if he's not already

[Magix]

I don't get the fans who say he'll have less defensive responsibility in midfield - in Klopp's midfield?

[Roger Federer]

I don't get the fans who say he'll have less defensive responsibility in midfield - in Klopp's midfield?

I imagine that with a more regular right back, the right midfielder wouldn't need to cover for the right back as much and could be more attacking himself. But I think you're right, he'd still need to run as much, press, and cover for Salah anyway, so the workload would be similar if a bit different.

[killer-heels]

His attacking runs were great to see. Its something he has in his locker but isnt something we have seen very often.

[Sangria]

Bale wasn't a very good leftback though.

No wins in his first 20-30 games, wasn't it? IIRC Heels was keeping tabs on him.

[Zoomers]

What a special world class talent we have... His passes are fucking sublime.

[Magix]

I imagine that with a more regular right back, the right midfielder wouldn't need to cover for the right back as much and could be more attacking himself. But I think you're right, he'd still need to run as much, press, and cover for Salah anyway, so the workload would be similar if a bit different.

I think there's a possibility he may be considered in midfield next season, especially if Hoever and Neco can emerge as true RB options. Already twice(?) this season Klopp has subbed in Gomez and pushed Trent up.

[JC the Messiah]

I think there's a possibility he may be considered in midfield next season, especially if Hoever and Neco can emerge as true RB options. Already twice(?) this season Klopp has subbed in Gomez and pushed Trent up.

Why is that a possibility?

Klopp has set the team up in a 4-3-3 formation, and it works brilliantly with the personnel we have. We don't play with a wide right midfielder.  Where would Trent play?  In a role where he gets far fewer opportunities to cross the ball and make the cross-field passes that he does? 

Klopp subs in Gomez to try and lock-up a win.  Yesterday we went to 4-5-1 (Klopp was gesturing this to the players).  It's not the standard way Klopp wants the team to play. 

[Magix]

Why is that a possibility?

Klopp has set the team up in a 4-3-3 formation, and it works brilliantly with the personnel we have. We don't play with a wide right midfielder.  Where would Trent play?  In a role where he gets far fewer opportunities to cross the ball and make the cross-field passes that he does? 

Klopp subs in Gomez to try and lock-up a win.  Yesterday we went to 4-5-1 (Klopp was gesturing this to the players).  It's not the standard way Klopp wants the team to play. 

If we see changes in midfield faces and more rightback options emerge that is, that's my qualification to it. More than happy to see Trent continue as rightback for the reasons you mentioned, which I've also said as much before.

[kopitecrash]

I think some of the reason Trent is able to be so effective is because he has the room to hit those raking passes in the position. I don't mean to say that in midfield he wouldn't do it, I don't know - but playing someone who can play passes like that at full back is the entire point. If you think about it, Trent having the ball pulls the other team towards his flank, because they have to cover that position because of his crossing, because of Salah, and so on. That in itself makes the switch that much more dangerous because Robertson has that much more room on the opposite flank. Trent is the playmaker from that position, and the midfield to a degree are there to allow him to do that - Gigi keeps the ball and sucks people in, Henderson makes runs down that flank to cause extra problems, and Fabinho covers for the other two. None of them are Alonso's but it's better that they aren't - because Trent not only does that role anyway but is given more room to do so because of the nature of the fullback role.

I do kind of wonder if a team is going to play a competitive midfielder on that flank at some point, just to shut him down. It might prove to be an effective tactic.

[Jon2lfc]

I think some of the reason Trent is able to be so effective is because he has the room to hit those raking passes in the position. I don't mean to say that in midfield he wouldn't do it, I don't know - but playing someone who can play passes like that at full back is the entire point. If you think about it, Trent having the ball pulls the other team towards his flank, because they have to cover that position because of his crossing, because of Salah, and so on. That in itself makes the switch that much more dangerous because Robertson has that much more room on the opposite flank. Trent is the playmaker from that position, and the midfield to a degree are there to allow him to do that - Gigi keeps the ball and sucks people in, Henderson makes runs down that flank to cause extra problems, and Fabinho covers for the other two. None of them are Alonso's but it's better that they aren't - because Trent not only does that role anyway but is given more room to do so because of the nature of the fullback role.

I do kind of wonder if a team is going to play a competitive midfielder on that flank at some point, just to shut him down. It might prove to be an effective tactic.

Yes, this is the way I'm beginning to see it as well.

Trent is at RB on the teamsheet. But, in reality he is a our [very] deep-lying midfielder at the base of our play.

It's not his fault that the pitch he plays on is shaped like a kite with the goals diagonally to him.
(if you visualise that, you'll see what I mean).