Trent Alexander-Arnold

[kingfunk]

Arne has hinted at strengthening in the summer in interviews over the weekend, iirc.

Yip, Arne has more or less said he has already identified the positions that need strengthening and I’d be very surprised if Hughes et al were not already putting in all the background work for 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices for each position. I reckon we will see 3 top signings similar to the year we signed Alisson, Virg…

[The_weatherman]

12 times is such a wild statistic and all so easy... it is absolutely bonkers. Trent is so lucky Doku is utterly **** at kicking a ball otherwise the media would be in full meltdown mode, his body position when defending is so strange on times. This type of thing happens most games with Trent and he specifically needs other players to cover him, we seen that yesterday multiple times with Ibou and Mo. Ibou is so important to us but is injury prone as is and he has to put in over time in every single game covering for Trent who is constantly caught up the pitch, dribbled past and targeted over the top. Teams target that weak area in almost every game.

We have all forgiven his defensive frailties over the years because he was producing so much going forward and has a fabulous strike of a football. That really isn't the case anymore, his production levels have dropped off, his Hollywood balls often come to nothing and he often gets accused of being lazy. Imo people are starting to notice how much of a weak link he is at the back.

Same goes for Robbo who was always a better defender than Trent, not as gifted but never lazy and had great production. Tweaks in formation and him having to change his role slightly have been mentioned as to the big drop off in his production and have some merit but in reality, he has lost a bit of pace and can't seem to run by defenders anymore and get balls in from the bi line. He has 0 assists in the league this season and looks a shadow of the player he used to be defensively. Two legends for us over years, tough watch these days.

Imo two positions that need immediate addressing. Timmy isn't good enough to be the main starter and hard to know how Bradley will go.

While I agree mostly, I think it's a bit harsh in Trent, I feel he has more hockey assists really than assist latey, he can turn defense to offensive in three seconds. But his defensive work is an issue for sure.

[Cerbie]

No way that will be happening - if it does, every right for us to blow up

Arne has hinted at strengthening in the summer in interviews over the weekend, iirc.

[Sus]

This place will explode on August 31st 2025 having made no new signings

No way that will be happening - if it does, every right for us to blow up

[danperkins]

This place will explode on August 31st 2025 having made no new signings

would it be a surprise, Gomez coming back from injury & Chiesa actually being match fit will be like new signings Norbs!!

[Norbs]

This place will explode on August 31st 2025 having made no new signings

[danperkins]

- I think Robbo has a year left on his contract so that probably means Tsimikas is sold and a new left back comes in/is promoted.

- Bit worried about Bradley's finess issues this year and anyway he needs a back up if TAA goes. Could be Joey G but... So probably a second right back needs to be bought/promoted too.

- Bit thin on fit centre backs - even if VVD stays- so...

- We need more midfield bodies, so...

_ Even if Mo stays and Luis stays, we need to at least one new attacker and to ship out those not good enough or those not staying fit for long enough.

I count 6 new squad members there. How many can come from the ranks?

yeah agree with this & imo it will be a busy summer. Personally I think VVD contract is priority as he can comfortably play top level and thrive for a few more years but with Gomez & Ibou being injury prone and new CB is a must. Mo is putting up insane numbers but I do get the hesitancy to give him this big money deal. In saying that though, he is making it very hard to argue against with what he has done this season. Trent imo is the one out of the 3 that I would sacrifice & we seem to also be looking for a new LB too. I also think Nunez & Diaz will go in the summer. I don't think you are far off with the 6 new bodies coming in, big changes coming & exciting times to improve upon an already strong side.

[baitman]

Doku wasn't **** at all.
His crossing didn't come to much mainly due to konate stopping the ball getting into the box.
It's not ideal that trent couldn't prevent him getting past so often, but having a solid centre back to snuff out the through balls and crosses then cuts out Doku's end product.

[Paul12]

...Imo two positions that need immediate addressing. Timmy isn't good enough to be the main starter and hard to know how Bradley will go.

- I think Robbo has a year left on his contract so that probably means Tsimikas is sold and a new left back comes in/is promoted.

- Bit worried about Bradley's finess issues this year and anyway he needs a back up if TAA goes. Could be Joey G but... So probably a second right back needs to be bought/promoted too.

- Bit thin on fit centre backs - even if VVD stays- so...

- We need more midfield bodies, so...

_ Even if Mo stays and Luis stays, we need to at least one new attacker and to ship out those not good enough or those not staying fit for long enough.

I count 6 new squad members there. How many can come from the ranks?

[danperkins]

12 times is such a wild statistic and all so easy... it is absolutely bonkers. Trent is so lucky Doku is utterly **** at kicking a ball otherwise the media would be in full meltdown mode, his body position when defending is so strange on times. This type of thing happens most games with Trent and he specifically needs other players to cover him, we seen that yesterday multiple times with Ibou and Mo. Ibou is so important to us but is injury prone as is and he has to put in over time in every single game covering for Trent who is constantly caught up the pitch, dribbled past and targeted over the top. Teams target that weak area in almost every game.

We have all forgiven his defensive frailties over the years because he was producing so much going forward and has a fabulous strike of a football. That really isn't the case anymore, his production levels have dropped off, his Hollywood balls often come to nothing and he often gets accused of being lazy. Imo people are starting to notice how much of a weak link he is at the back.

Same goes for Robbo who was always a better defender than Trent, not as gifted but never lazy and had great production. Tweaks in formation and him having to change his role slightly have been mentioned as to the big drop off in his production and have some merit but in reality, he has lost a bit of pace and can't seem to run by defenders anymore and get balls in from the bi line. He has 0 assists in the league this season and looks a shadow of the player he used to be defensively. Two legends for us over years, tough watch these days.

Imo two positions that need immediate addressing. Timmy isn't good enough to be the main starter and hard to know how Bradley will go.

[The_weatherman]

https://x.com/WhoScored/status/1893967858570494348

12 here, but anyway, like has been said, it didn't really feel very threatening, although I think Salah won more duels against Doku than Trent

[Buzzo]

Shows they still have a small time mentality if they are celebrating that as a Big score for them, we kept a clean sheet won comfortably 2 - 0 but they got the ‘most dribbles past’ award.

Doku with no goals and no assists no big chances created yesterday.

[The_weatherman]

https://x.com/propsMCFC/status/1893739098642284864

[BigChief]

Was it only 11??? Felt like loads more than that.

I think out of all the times he managed to cross it and not run out of play, there were maybe 2 dangerous balls and City were nowhere near them.

I thought Ibu and Mo covered really well. Mo in particular was defending really well. Endo did well covering when he came on too.

There was the odd misplaced pass from Trent and he was reminded by Virg once about cover, but I think Trent had a good game yesterday especially given the possession stats!

TAA took a lot less risks, often hoofing the ball to nowhere which is totally against his nature. But it meant we didn't make any defensive mistakes to let City back in. He followed orders. Even the 11 times he was dribbled past was only on the outside, I can't remember Doku cutting in to any effect. Slot would have been pleased to see that (TAA again following strict orders).

Noted that Salah, Gravo and then Endo played a big part in that too.

[Cerbie]

This was a record I believe though 11 times.

Was it only 11??? Felt like loads more than that.

I think out of all the times he managed to cross it and not run out of play, there were maybe 2 dangerous balls and City were nowhere near them.

I thought Ibu and Mo covered really well. Mo in particular was defending really well. Endo did well covering when he came on too.

There was the odd misplaced pass from Trent and he was reminded by Virg once about cover, but I think Trent had a good game yesterday especially given the possession stats!