Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s passing is so good that it’s ‘on a different’ planet.’
That’s according to former England centre-back Matthew Upson. Speaking to Sky Sports, Upson claimed that the Liverpool star is ‘phenomenal’ when it comes to his work on the ball.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold with the ball is just on a different planet for me. He sees things and plays one touch and sees passes that are just phenomenal,” said the pundit.
However, as seems customary when talking about Trent, Upson did also have some words of warning for the Liverpool player’s defensive work.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold is a conundrum because what he brings in terms of attacking play, and passing, distribution and confidence, set-pieces with the ball is another level, it really is, it’s that good,” he said. “But if you break down the core of what a right-back role would be out of possession, he doesn’t offer it that well.
“He gets draw into situations, recovery’s not that great and his intensity in terms of that side of the game is lacking. That gets exposed from time to time.”
Trent still under intense scrutiny defensively
This is the conversation that simply won’t go away with Alexander-Arnold. One mistake, such as his lack of intensity in closing down Jadon Sancho as he scored on Monday, and his suitability is called into question.
Rarely has their been a player as scrutinised as Trent. That’s despite him regularly doing good defensive work that often goes unnoticed.
Just ask Jurgen Klopp about his right-back’s ability to be a defender. The Liverpool boss recently said he would ‘knock down’ anyone who said that the Scouser can’t defend.
Jurgen may have to rattle a few cages then, as talk to that effect has been rife since Monday.
Of course it isn’t completely without foundation. Alexander-Arnold certainly could have closed down Sancho far quicker than he did at Old Trafford. He was also beaten rather tamely by the one-two that preceded the goal on his side of the pitch.
But show us a full-back who isn’t caught out occasionally. If Alexander-Arnold were so poor, Liverpool couldn’t win what they have with him in the team.
Trent’s mentality is such that he’ll be determined to prove his critics wrong. With the talent that he possesses, that’s great news for Liverpool and terrible news for their opponents. Watch out Bournemouth.
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