Trent Alexander-Arnold know the skill he needs to add to his game to hit his next world-class level. The full-back caught the eye once again v Crystal Palace.
Alexander-Arnold is probably the best right-back in the world. There certainly isn’t anyone we’d swap him for – and that’s without considering his potential.
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Because the Scouser is still only 21 and has the vast majority of his career ahead of him. In fact, he shouldn’t be anywhere near his peak yet, as you’d expect that at around 26-27 years old.
So the fact that he’s even in the argument is quite sensational. It’s easy to see why he’s there, though, as not only 1/4 of one of the world’s best defences but also as the most creative defender around.
His 12 assists this season is only behind Kevin De Bruyne and it equals last season’s tally – which was the most by a defender in Premier League history.
That saw him named in the PFA Team of the Year last season, as well as UEFA’s Team of the Year for 2019. Not to mention the Ballon d’Or nomination.
Despite all the accolades, despite being arguably the best around, Alexander-Arnold can still get better. And the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace showed a simple way how.
The 21-year-old opened the scoring against Palace with a wonderful free-kick. That’s a skill he’s always had in his locker but one we don’t actually see too often.
Alexander-Arnold’s first goal for the club was, of course, a free-kick against Hoffenheim. He hasn’t bagged too many since, though, and only has two in the Premier League.
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But he’s definitely got the ability to be a supreme threat from set-pieces. If he can improve in that area he may even become an elite free-kick taker.
Alexander-Arnold will hit another world-class level if he does start consistently scoring from free-kicks. That, combined with his incredible creativity from the flank, would push him onto levels we’ve never really seen at right-back.