Trent Alexander-Arnold

[RedReet]

That is a massive issue and one that pretty much became the norm for him from last season and is why I think he should not be in the central role as he doing the things you mentioned means he, imo, loses runners from a number of channels rather than just on the flank when he was a RB.

Word for word I've heard the same accusations levelled at Gomez and tbf, for both players at times it has been fair.

They both have certain weaknesses to their games, but I don't think it makes them bad defenders or that the think they are too good to worry about the basics, as some suggest. There are so many other factors at play that impact an individuals performance, but it seems certain players take the brunt of poor team performances. Both players have clearly shown that they are capable at playing at elite level when on form, but when struggling, at individual or team level, their weaknesses can be exposed, especially if they are targeted by most teams, so face most of the play.

It's just a shame that it's only the poor performances that stand out when teams target Trent, as the ones we keep quiet and have no joy, tend to go unnoticed. I'm sure Klopp could rhyme off dozens of world class performances, but the one that will always stand out was City in CL when Pep threw everything at Trent, who had Sane (in the form of his life) in his back pocket and answered everything City threw at him.

[Venton]

Word for word I've heard the same accusations levelled at Gomez and tbf, for both players at times it has been fair.

They both have certain weaknesses to their games, but I don't think it makes them bad defenders or that the think they are too good to worry about the basics, as some suggest. There are so many other factors at play that impact an individuals performance, but it seems certain players take the brunt of poor team performances. Both players have clearly shown that they are capable at playing at elite level when on form, but when struggling, at individual or team level, their weaknesses can be exposed, especially if they are targeted by most teams, so face most of the play.

It's just a shame that it's only the poor performances that stand out when teams target Trent, as the ones we keep quiet and have no joy, tend to go unnoticed. I'm sure Klopp could rhyme off dozens of world class performances, but the one that will always stand out was City in CL when Pep threw everything at Trent, who had Sane (in the form of his life) in his back pocket and answered everything City threw at him.

I think Gomez's problem was injuries. He had been called up for England before his latest (in a very long line).

Trent was amazing in Klopp's formation that led to us winning the league. He was instrumental in that success. The question is, how effective is he in a different formation, or when the formation isn't working well?

Edit: Sorry, meant to reply to your reply to me, rather than your reply to Doc!

[Irishnev]

Yes. He's played as a fullback, not a wingback. He's been the rightback in a team that has avereaged a goal or fewer conceded per game in 4 different seasons now.

He's a better defender than all the scrutiny makes him out to be.

When he first broke into the team I remember him being one of a very small handful of players who would break even vs Sane. I genuinely think it’s an ego thing with him now, he thinks he’s too good to be “just” a right back so he doesn’t really bother. Him coming into the middle contests the pitch and there is do much space out wide where he could thrive….

[RedReet]

When he first broke into the team I remember him being one of a very small handful of players who would break even vs Sane. I genuinely think it’s an ego thing with him now, he thinks he’s too good to be “just” a right back so he doesn’t really bother. Him coming into the middle contests the pitch and there is do much space out wide where he could thrive….

Do you think if we were still playing well and had the midfield to get the best out of Trent, we'd still be having this conversation? I don't really subscribe to this theory that he thinks he's to good to be a full back, but if there is any truth to it, could it be because we were so poor last he genuinely thinks he could help the team if more involved?

That's all theoretical, but on the pitch now, what actually do you mean? He's not trying as hard at RB? Is this hybrid role not good enough, even though he's more of a midfielder? If anything, now that we have better midfielders, it looks like he's curbed his attacking instincts at his own expense compared to last year, which shows a level of maturity and selflessness.

[Irishnev]

Do you think if we were still playing well and had the midfield to get the best out of Trent, we'd still be having this conversation? I don't really subscribe to this theory that he thinks he's to good to be a full back, but if there is any truth to it, could it be because we were so poor last he genuinely thinks he could help the team if more involved?

That's all theoretical, but on the pitch now, what actually do you mean? He's not trying as hard at RB? Is this hybrid role not good enough, even though he's more of a midfielder? If anything, now that we have better midfielders, it looks like he's curbed his attacking instincts at his own expense compared to last year, which shows a level of maturity and selflessness.

We kind of have the midfield now though, Szozbo in front of him and the legs are there. What I can tell from watching is that multiple times last season and a few times this season he has appeared to not try. Let guys run past him while he jogs, half arsed stick out a leg to block a cross so perhaps he’s just lazy regardless of position. Selflessness isn’t something I always attribute to him - the traits mentioned above and in a few games he’s taken on worldie shots when there are others better placed.

I don’t like this hybrid role because it’s not Klopp for me, play Trent at RB, a proper 6 and two energetic 8s and he’ll be set up to succeed as he did in the past. I think he is superbly talented and was the best RB in the world for around 2 years. His attitude stank last season but the team was a shambles around him - if he is to play in midfield then so be it but let’s buy a RB and bin the inverted stuff

[RedReet]

We kind of have the midfield now though, Szozbo in front of him and the legs are there. What I can tell from watching is that multiple times last season and a few times this season he has appeared to not try. Let guys run past him while he jogs, half arsed stick out a leg to block a cross so perhaps he’s just lazy regardless of position. Selflessness isn’t something I always attribute to him - the traits mentioned above and in a few games he’s taken on worldie shots when there are others better placed.

I don’t like this hybrid role because it’s not Klopp for me, play Trent at RB, a proper 6 and two energetic 8s and he’ll be set up to succeed as he did in the past. I think he is superbly talented and was the best RB in the world for around 2 years. His attitude stank last season but the team was a shambles around him - if he is to play in midfield then so be it but let’s buy a RB and bin the inverted stuff

I also agree that we have the midfield now and Trent is a bit surplus to requirements in there, but I'm not really sure what fans now expect of him when he's asked to play there.

He was diabolical most of last season, excellent towards the end and somewhere inbetween this season. A lot of our players were accused of having the wrong attitude last year, which didn't add up considering their 'famed' mentality, not just on the pitch, but from when we scouted them. Some of them have regained form (Mo, Virg) and nobody is asking those questions any more, so I suspect once Trent gets a consistant run of form, he'll follow suit.

[baitman]

Mac Alistair fancies having a go at right back, so maybe we should re-jig the team to let him fulfil his fantasies

[Irishnev]

I also agree that we have the midfield now and Trent is a bit surplus to requirements in there, but I'm not really sure what fans now expect of him when he's asked to play there.

He was diabolical most of last season, excellent towards the end and somewhere inbetween this season. A lot of our players were accused of having the wrong attitude last year, which didn't add up considering their 'famed' mentality, not just on the pitch, but from when we scouted them. Some of them have regained form (Mo, Virg) and nobody is asking those questions any more, so I suspect once Trent gets a consistant run of form, he'll follow suit.

I hope so but I’d really like us to go back to basics and be a proper Klopp side and not a poor imitation of City

[Doc_Piptorious]

I hope so but I’d really like us to go back to basics and be a proper Klopp side and not a poor imitation of City

[frank the tank]

Trent would be brilliant in a 3-5-2 formation but in reality we are never going to play that way (i don't think anyway)

As the likes of Virgil gets on though, it must be a consideration.

--------------------------BECKER--------------------------

--------KONATE----------VIRGIL--------QUANSAH-------


TRENT---------DOM-------------MACCA------------DIAZ


------SALAH------------NUNEZ-----------JOTA----------

[Le Chef]

Signed with Adidas, multi year sponsorship

[rudedog]

Interesting analysis on Trent (from a Newcastle fan) :

[ame="https://youtu.be/n_h_ZJFSYow"]Why Trent Alexander-Arnold Deserves WAY More Respect - YouTube[/ame]

[RedReet]

Interesting analysis on Trent (from a Newcastle fan) :

Why Trent Alexander-Arnold Deserves WAY More Respect - YouTube

Thanks for posting RD, good to see some positive press for Trent for a change.

Was good that he highlighted how all Trent's individual stats have suffered, but the team as a whole have improved, which somewhat contradicts the suggestion that it's all about Trent and how he thinks he's bigger than the team etc.

Hopefully that City performance is just the start of things to come.

[RedReet]

I know Tuesday79 and others have already replied, but he was a smashing RB. Lsat season was his only season being poor from RB on a regular basis before moving to that central position in the final third of last season.

His defending was always pretty good but was overshadowed by his frankly brilliant attacking play from that position.

Think in the hypothetical scenario of him going to Real it would be very much as a RB and could see him being a massive upgrade on Carvajal. Not a hope he would be going central there when they have a number of players that would be superior central/deep playmakers.


As said already by others, he did not play a big part in one of the best back lines in the country without being a very good defender.

When at his best at RB I think there was only one player that regulary had his number and that was Vinicius jr, and to be fair the same to be said for almost every RB that he ran at.


I might not rate TAA in the centre, but a motivated TAA at RB is a top tier RB.


Whilst a different style of RB, I would rate peak TAA as being as effective from the position as Philipp Lahm was back in the day, and in the here and now the only guy that I think is or maybe is as effective from RB as TAA is Hakimi (again in a different manner to TAA and with the caveat that Hakimi plays at RWB as often as he does at RB)

Missed this at the time.

Good post Jaco.

[BG1973]

Bump for the match winner.

Lethal around the edge of the box.