Trent Alexander-Arnold

[Doc_Piptorious]

He's been backed for years despite his dodgy defending. But he chose the one game to just walk around and do nothing, against the one opposition he shouldnt be doing that ever to. Thats why its happening. I swear any other league and people would be wondering if he had a bet on UTD winning. Because thats how bad it looked.

Probably not what you are meaning, but that makes it sound like he has been some sort of liability during his time at Liverpool.

The Manc game was one of the worst performances I have seen from him and he rightly deserves all the criticism he gets for that performance, but he also went years of putting in top level performances. Yes those performances were more attack based than defensive, but he was not a lucky bag defender either for long spells of his career.

[Cerbie]

He's been backed for years despite his dodgy defending. But he chose the one game to just walk around and do nothing, against the one opposition he shouldnt be doing that ever to. Thats why its happening. I swear any other league and people would be wondering if he had a bet on UTD winning. Because thats how bad it looked.

I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt for now. When he came on last night, he made a difference going forward and tracked back well. I'd be happy to keep that version of Trent.

[vlahka]

But that is exactly what appears to be happening right now?

He's been backed for years despite his dodgy defending. But he chose the one game to just walk around and do nothing, against the one opposition he shouldnt be doing that ever to. Thats why its happening. I swear any other league and people would be wondering if he had a bet on UTD winning. Because thats how bad it looked.

[Tatterdemalion]

I'm just really looking forward to seeing how he does at madrid. He wont have the team covering all his defending issues. How quickly will the crowd turn on him. Because they love to turn. I like to think of them as an everton crowd how cheer for a big team.

But that is exactly what appears to be happening right now?

[dom9]

That's my cover blown...I've been compromised
Hello Dom: handshake:

[John Barnes]

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

The poster called John Barnes is the one that was called Bender, but he was also renowned for being late

Well, well, well

Welcome back Bender.

That's my cover blown...I've been compromised
Hello Dom: handshake:

[rudedog]

Also, having Jones there instead of slobz is another minus point.

Yeah that’s a really good point, Jones just didn’t ever get going on Sunday - didn’t affect the game in any meaningful way.

[baitman]

Our right hand side IS defensively weak usn't it...a right back who is much better going forward and a 'right winger' who doesn't track back. Normally with such a situation the answer is a back three and wingbacks or change out one of the players, rather than allow such a weakness to persist.

Also, having Jones there instead of slobz is another minus point.

[frank the tank]

Gomez injured is a balls as well but Konate was immense until he got crocked

If Ibou and Virgil can stay fit, then we have a huge chance of a brilliant season

[peterbread]

Our right hand side IS defensively weak usn't it...a right back who is much better going forward and a 'right winger' who doesn't track back. Normally with such a situation the answer is a back three and wingbacks or change out one of the players, rather than allow such a weakness to persist.

Salah is clearly being instructed to not track back and work as much defensively in games this season and it’s allowing him to excel in attack.

The midfield is coming over to help out for him and it’s worked brilliantly all season. The team still has an excellent defensive record but it has dropped a bit from the start of the season.

That defensive record to start the season would have been great to keep up but wasn’t necessarily a realistic rate when you have to start to rotate more and players pick up injuries and teams adjusted to how the team was set up.

I’ll defend Trent here and say he was looking very good defensively earlier and it was a big improvement on previous seasons. Konate getting injured is when things started to drop off again.

[BG1973]

Exactly.

[rudedog]

Our right hand side IS defensively weak usn't it...a right back who is much better going forward and a 'right winger' who doesn't track back. Normally with such a situation the answer is a back three and wingbacks or change out one of the players, rather than allow such a weakness to persist.

And we have somehow managed to fluke our way to the top of the domestic and European leagues with this weakness

[Paul12]

I think Konate does a good job tbh. I'd say the issue is more that Salah doesn't offer much help when he is targeted. ... .

Our right hand side IS defensively weak usn't it...a right back who is much better going forward and a 'right winger' who doesn't track back. Normally with such a situation the answer is a back three and wingbacks or change out one of the players, rather than allow such a weakness to persist.

[dom9]

The poster called John Barnes is the one that was called Bender, but he was also renowned for being late

Well, well, well

Welcome back Bender.

[BG1973]

It’s a valid point. Other teams target him because the defence on our right is a proven weakness, be that as a consequence of our style of play or individuals ability.

I wonder if we switched Virgil to the right CB, would that help?

I think Konate does a good job tbh. I'd say the issue is more that Salah doesn't offer much help when he is targeted.

Looking at overall performances this season nor should he as it's more opportunities for him to take advantage of the space left by the opposition.. and ironically trent is the player to find him.

So overall I think trent has done really well this season.. and Sunday was a blip. Let's see how he responds in the next game to see if there is now a major issue.