‘Proved massive’: Former Liverpool player blown away by what 24-year-old did in the first-half vs Leicester

Add as preferred source on Google

Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor has praised Trent Alexander-Arnold for his defensive work against Leicester City last night.

Trent was superb all evening as the Reds edged past Leicester, winning 2-1. And taking to Twitter, Mellor paid tribute to the 24-year-old’s display, highlighting one first-half intervention in particular.

“[Alexander-Arnold was] Superb again,” he began. “He won’t get the credit he deserves defensively but in about the 20th min he produced a vital goal saving clearance to stop Leicester scoring to make it 0-2. It proved massive as Liverpool went on to win.”

The moment in question appears to be Alexander-Arnold’s stretched clearance to cut out Jamie Vardy’s ball across the box for Harvey Barnes. Had the Liverpool man not got his toe to the pass, Barnes would surely have doubled the Foxes lead.

Trent learning from his mistakes

After so much talk of Alexander-Arnold’s defensive shortcomings this season, this was a reminder of what he can do.

Barnes is one of the leagues quickest and most direct wingers. As he stood Trent up time and again during last night’s game, you were just waiting for him to sneak past him.

But he never did. In fact, as Leicester’s plan to target Liverpool’s No.66 failed to bare fruit, they didn’t look like having an awful lot of different ideas.

Of course, this has proved to be a useful strategy for a number of teams this season.

Alexander-Arnold is showing real signs of learning from his mistakes, though. After the game he suggested that he had taken note of the criticism aimed his way, and was working hard to improve his game.

“People home in on that [perceived defensive issues] but some of it I’ve not helped myself,” Trent said via The Times. “I hold my hands up on that. In situations I could have been better. It’s part of my game I try to work on.

“Mostly it is individually and seeing what you’ve done right and wrong, your footwork, your patterns, if you’re crossing your feet over and why someone has beat you and got you off balance. Sometimes you are up against a world-class winger who will just get the better of you. Other times, I could have done better.”

As ever, a level-headed approach from the Scouser, who has had to put up with some ridiculous comments. But whatever he’s doing, it seems to be working. Mellor and Liverpool were thankful for that last night.