Trent Alexander-Arnold

[RedReet]

[ame]https://twitter.com/Kloppholic/status/1737588713100566894[/ame]

Some ball TBF. Not sure it was even mentioned in match thread.

[spud_gun]

fell on his arse

[RedReet]

fell on his arse

An Alisson special. Soon as he hit the deck, Mo knew it was a goal.

[Buzzo]

https://twitter.com/Kloppholic/statu...88713100566894

Some ball TBF. Not sure it was even mentioned in match thread.

Also Salah notices and moves into the space in advance of Trent getting the ball if you see it from a different angle. Drifts to the middle making it (not an easy one) the obvious pass to try.

Old skool LFC Salah goal.

[RedReet]

[ame]https://twitter.com/_pauljoyce/status/1738244521249362058[/ame]


FOOTBALL | PAUL JOYCE

Trent Alexander-Arnold transformation comes full circle against Arsenal
Liverpool are unbeaten in Premier League with 25-year-old in the starting XI since he moved into ‘hybrid’ role but they face a real threat on Saturday

Jürgen Klopp can pinpoint the exact moment that Liverpool’s renaissance began. It was 4.30pm on Sunday, April 9, when a difficult campaign was entering the home stretch and Arsenal arrived at Anfield.

The previous weekend Liverpool had been dismantled 4-1 by Manchester City. An insipid goalless draw with Chelsea played out a few days later and it was against Mikel Arteta’s side that the fightback started.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was asked to move from right back into midfield when his team-mates were in possession, the idea being that his passing range from central areas could add unpredictability to the play while also providing protection in the middle of the pitch.

His “hybrid” role was born in that 2-2 draw and, as the statistics reveal, it has been an unqualified success. Since then Liverpool have never lost a league game in which Alexander-Arnold has started, taking 62 points from 27 matches.

Arsenal’s return to Merseyside this weekend offered the 25-year-old a chance to reflect on the task of adjusting to a tactical tweak which created a system that, along with other factors that include Virgil van Dijk’s imperious form, has offered a convincing solution to previous problem.

“When the manager and Pep [Lijnders, assistant manager] talked to me in the week leading up to the game, it was something that I was excited about,” Alexander-Arnold said. “I had obviously seen other teams doing it and I thought it would challenge me as a footballer.

“It is something that I have massively enjoyed and the team has adapted to it. A lot of focus goes on to me and it is kind of painted that the system is because of me, and I am the biggest change because I shift there. But, technically, everyone shifts around.

“The back three shifts around, you have the midfield, the two No 8s push up, and the wingers drop a little bit deeper, so everyone moves. It is not just about me. It is more about a system rather than who plays there.”

There have been more assists, more touches, more chances created, more successful passes in the final third and more interceptions. Responsibility sits well with him. He enjoys making the difference, but there have been challenges, too.

Alexander-Arnold was man-marked by Danilo in a narrow success over Nottingham Forest in April and the win over Aston Villa in September brought a further readjustment, with Liverpool’s coaching staff enthralled by the patience he displayed in his passing that day. Since then, there have been periods in a number of games in which he has played solely as a midfielder.

“It has changed and evolved,” he said. “Some games you will see I am not in the middle as much, some games I am in there all the time.

“It is about where the space might be and where I can get on the ball. Thinking back to the Villa game, I was very deep. I came right out of the block and I was in the back line, getting the ball there, and they were not able to get too much pressure on me.

“That was down to the instructions I was given, because Villa were going to make it really compact and it was going to be hard to get on the ball and turn and be able to play. I was able to find balls in behind and we had some joy that way.

“As a team we have shown incredible consistency, winning games in different ways. It has had a positive impact on all of us — me especially. We’ve just got to keep it going. This weekend is a big one.”

He spoke with no sense of hyperbole. Arsenal are one point ahead of Liverpool in the table and Alexander-Arnold admires the work Arteta has overseen, which includes the recruitment of his England team-mate Declan Rice.

Alexander-Arnold sees similarities between the teams: Arsenal are looking to push on after the disappointment of finishing second last season to Manchester City, much like Klopp’s team followed up a runners-up spot to Pep Guardiola’s side with a landmark title in 2019-20.

“One hundred percent [we are similar],” he said. “They are a young, exciting team who last year probably lacked experience winning, more than anything. That’s quite similar to what we were in that season when we were nipped to it by City by one point. Those experiences teach you a lot. It teaches you how to win.

“They will be bringing that from last season and it is showing in their consistency. They deserve to be near the top. So do we.

“Whether it is him [Rice] or how they adapted, I feel they have gone up a level this season. They’re very consistent and they are winning in a controlled manner.

“He has been a big part of that. I have shared the pitch with him with England and know what he brings to a team. You can see it in how he plays; breaking up the play, getting the team up the pitch and a lot of the dirty work.

“He is also very confident on the ball. I am sure we will have a game plan, not only to try to stop him but to also stop Arsenal, as will they with us.”

Of course, he hopes the similarities between Arsenal and the Liverpool of four seasons ago are not realised, but is steeling himself for a dramatic title race. Alexander-Arnold is full of praise for Villa and knows City can reel off win after win.

“Everyone will drop points between now and the end of the season,” he added. “We just have to make sure we are in the right position and drop the least.”

Liverpool v Arsenal
Premier League, Saturday, kick-off 5.30pm

[RedReet]

Thought Trent was excellent again last night and interestingly seemed to be playing a bit deeper like he said he did against Villa in his recent interview.

Playing very well at the minute and just a shame he didn't get that winner against Arsenal.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Thought Trent was excellent again last night and interestingly seemed to be playing a bit deeper like he said he did against Villa in his recent interview.

Playing very well at the minute and just a shame he didn't get that winner against Arsenal.

Bad luck was what that was. He played well against Arsenal and was pretty good against Burnley.


Actually thought he looked better against the better of those two teams and think that is a bit of a theme with him at times.

Might be a pinch of truth in it as the better teams come at us more and leave a bit more space at times, whereas some of the so called lesser teams can be a bit more dogged and defend deeper.

[Buzzo]

My word. This would have been a goal for the ages. Close to one of the best ever… absolutely outrageous tekkers because he 100% means this*

[ame]https://twitter.com/lfctransferroom/status/1741949935228952849[/ame]

*where that tekkers went on the follow up to the missed pen I do not know.

[peterbread]

I was just coming to ask about this and if he meant it. But forget about that it would definitely have been one of the greatest goals. I thought it hit the bar at first but hitting that far post seemed to make it ever better.

He’s quietly going along nicely at the moment and is finding a good balance in his role.

[red g]

Better than Van Bastens if that went in!

[Irishnev]

Better than Van Bastens if that went in!

Hmmm - Van Basten’s was better for me as it was on the volley. This is what he was trying to emulate

[ame="https://youtu.be/BXAfnFeCd1s"]https://youtu.be/BXAfnFeCd1s[/ame]

[BG1973]

Hmmm - Van Basten’s was better for me as it was on the volley. This is what he was trying to emulate

https://youtu.be/BXAfnFeCd1s

[Kenneth]

Was a spectacular effort, but my take away from the game was how bad his long passing was. He completed about 2/3 of his passes overall, which isn’t great, but the % for anything over a few metres must have been closer to zero. The weather must certainly have played a part but it was one under hit cross field ball after another. He got dribbled past as if he want there for their first goal and he Keita’ed the penalty rebound. The shot against the post was certainly memorable, but the performance was not good.

[Irishnev]

Was a spectacular effort, but my take away from the game was how bad his long passing was. He completed about 2/3 of his passes overall, which isn’t great, but the % for anything over a few metres must have been closer to zero. The weather must certainly have played a part but it was one under hit cross field ball after another. He got dribbled past as if he want there for their first goal and he Keita’ed the penalty rebound. The shot against the post was certainly memorable, but the performance was not good.

2/3 of his passes when the are very progressive and risky isn’t too bad but it depends on where on the pitch he does it! He hit a left footed speculative one pretty late that nearly cost us a goal and got rightly bollocked for it

[RedReet]

Thought he played well. Most interceptions and recoveries for us.

Particularly liked this pass 11 mins in:

[ame]https://twitter.com/Kloppholic/status/1742109988036690411[/ame]