Trent Alexander-Arnold

[Cerbie]

This is how teams work, guys.

You want your right back to be your creative playmaker, then yes others will need to support him defensively as part of the system.

Did we as a team 'not get away' with TAA as our right back, or did we excell, with him being a key player?

We clearly excelled as we ran away with the title and chalked up multiple 90+ point seasons. I was just pointing out that saying our defence was strong because it had Trent playing RB isn’t really comparing apples with apples, it’s a bit more nuanced than that.

[vlahka]

And lets not mistake average defending, off day, or strong opposition giving us problems, to what he did which was walk around during a UTD match. The one thing liverpool fans hate the most is when someone isnt even trying. Nunez might be doing too much but he goes full on whenever he plays and people back him because of it. Walking around during a UTD match is unforgivable no matter what you've done in the past. Its almost insulting.

[Mark79]

We clearly excelled as we ran away with the title and chalked up multiple 90+ point seasons. I was just pointing out that saying our defence was strong because it had Trent playing RB isn’t really comparing apples with apples, it’s a bit more nuanced than that.

I didn't say that our defence was strong 'because' Trent was right back though.

I said that we had an elite team and defence over multiple seasons with Trent at right back.

[Cerbie]

I didn't say that our defence was strong 'because' Trent was right back though.

I said that we had an elite team and defence over multiple seasons with Trent at right back.

That’s fair enough.

A few have been defending his defensive record using those seasons as an example tho.


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[Doc_Piptorious]

That’s fair enough.

A few have been defending his defensive record using those seasons as an example tho.


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What exactly was wrong with his defensive record over the course of those three or four seasons though?

Don't think anyone called him brilliant defensively for those season, but think it would be fair to say he was defensively good for them whilst being excellent in attacking terms.

He also moved better imo during those season and was more agile, again imo, and had an extra yard of pace (not that he ever had blistering pace).

For me he runs heavy these days despite being only 26 yo and obviously at the fitness level required for a PL team. He is not a big guy, not tall, not of a heavy build but he moves like he is.

[Mark79]

ThatÂ’s fair enough.

A few have been defending his defensive record using those seasons as an example tho.


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Which is totally justifiable. He was part of that defence.

He wasn't an out and out defensive right back as he had so much creative/attacking responsibility. The team was set up to accommodate that. But that doesn't mean he didn't contribute defensively, nor was he a liability. He was still part of how an extremely successful defense functioned.

[Scratch]

We excelled for a period, and Trent was a big part of that. But he has either burnt himself out, or the praise has gone to his head and he's stopped putting the hard graft in cos he has 'made it'. But at a point in his career where he should be coming into his prime, he has definitely lost his fizz. Maybe a fresh start is what he needs, maybe he won't ever be the marauding fullback he once was, but he is turning in too many sub-par performances now, and the praise he once used to get is fast disappearing.

[baitman]

Watch him have a motm performance vs tottingham now

[John Barnes]

Watch him have a motm performance vs tottingham now

He can play like Pele but he's not worth the huge money he wants and he'll be another Johnathan Woodgate for Real Madrid.

[Cerbie]

Which is totally justifiable. He was part of that defence.

He wasn't an out and out defensive right back as he had so much creative/attacking responsibility. The team was set up to accommodate that. But that doesn't mean he didn't contribute defensively, nor was he a liability. He was still part of how an extremely successful defense functioned.

Let’s agree to disagree.

I think we accommodated his attacking capabilities when he was RB but maybe relied too much on the RCB to cover him when he was doing his Hybrid role. He has stuck more to the wing this season, but Sunday was a **** show - Virgil’s in-game reactions confirm that.

I still think he has an important contribution to make to the squad, but we also need more commitment and energy from him for the rest of the season if he stays.

[Cerbie]

He can play like Pele but he's not worth the huge money he wants and he'll be another Johnathan Woodgate for Real Madrid.

Ouch!!

[dom9]

I swear John Barnes is Bender (late version, not the version that was legendarily late).

[Cerbie]

What exactly was wrong with his defensive record over the course of those three or four seasons though?

Don't think anyone called him brilliant defensively for those season, but think it would be fair to say he was defensively good for them whilst being excellent in attacking terms.

He also moved better imo during those season and was more agile, again imo, and had an extra yard of pace (not that he ever had blistering pace).

For me he runs heavy these days despite being only 26 yo and obviously at the fitness level required for a PL team. He is not a big guy, not tall, not of a heavy build but he moves like he is.

It may be subjective and biased on my part, I just think in the Hybrid role and so far this season there are times when he is to directly to blame for pressure on our defence and ultimately goals.

I was at the Arsenal game in ‘23 when he got stuck in and got the crowd going. More of that please!

I was also at the Chelsea game in January, Bradley played, & I was like wow, that’s what playing with a proper RB is like. For all Trent’s world class potential, he has been shown up defensively by a kid from Castlederg.


On Sunday, we looked more balanced and a bigger threat after he came on too.

[Mark79]

Let’s agree to disagree.

I think we accommodated his attacking capabilities when he was RB but maybe relied too much on the RCB to cover him when he was doing his Hybrid role. He has stuck more to the wing this season, but Sunday was a **** show - Virgil’s in-game reactions confirm that.

I still think he has an important contribution to make to the squad, but we also need more commitment and energy from him for the rest of the season if he stays.

I agree about the hybrid role. It demanded too much from the RCB, but that was an issue with the system rather than Trent’s capability in the defensive aspects of his game.

And yes Sunday was diabolical from him, no argument there.

We do need him to focus put the effort and commitment in. If does that, then he’ll go back to being an elite part of our team from right back. As he was in those 90+ point seasons.

[peterbread]

It’s the inconsistency now that’s so frustrating. He’s been much better defensively this season for the most part but then throws out games like Sunday where he looks so disinterested and stops doing the basics. He’s all over the place and can be ridiculously good one game then not bother the next, it’s all mental with him. Maybe he’s one of these players that can’t keep motivated once they’ve won a few things. He doesn’t have that drive to keep going.

I’m also over the floating around in some games. It’s not as much this season but the balance looks so much better when he’s on the right or a bit narrow but still in that area only. I’d be nice to see him get into trophies crossing positions more often as he’d set up plenty of goals again with those.

I do wonder if Slot had the chance to rebuild the fullback positions, which it looks like he will next season, what type of fullback he’d go for. Realistically only one of the current lot would be a major part of next seasons team. You’d think one of Robertson or Timi will go and the other will be a backup to a new leftback.