Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold produced a ‘special’ pass for Darwin Nunez in today’s win over Brentford.
The Reds kept their winning streak going today, with Mohamed Salah’s early goal enough to take the points. In the end, Liverpool were a little lucky to get away with the win. But in the first-half they did have a glorious chance to get a second goal.
As it so often is, the opportunity came courtesy of Trent’s right boot. Picking the ball up in a deep area, the 24-year-old dinked a lovely ball over the top to put Nunez in one-on-one vs David Raya. Nunez may have ultimately shanked the shot high and wide, but speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Klopp praised the ball from his No.66, as well as answering whether he’ll stay in this new role long-term.
“I think so, long-term we will see. It depends on the new players we can bring in and who can play different positions, that’s clear,” he explained. “But it suits him extremely well. I think the chance he set up for Darwin was again a very, very special ball. Defensively he’s extremely strong. He still has to adapt to the formation, I think in the last game he struggled a bit in his back. It’s not about him he cannot be everywhere.
“Apart from that Trent played now pretty much all minutes since six, seven weeks in this super intense period with games every two, three days. For that, it’s outstanding what he’s doing.”
Trent shows what he’s all about
It’s true that Alexander-Arnold can play these kinds of passes from anywhere on the pitch. But in his midfield role, he just has so much more scope to get the ball in dangerous areas.
In fairness, dangerous areas for anyone else aren’t the same as dangerous areas for Trent. The Scouser can turn an innocuous position on the pitch into a glorious chance.
That’s exactly what he did this afternoon for Nunez. Unfortunately though, the Uruguayan’s confidence just isn’t where it needs to be.
A happy and confident Darwin bangs that into the net first time, no questions asked. We’ve seen him nail a similar chance from a similar Alexander-Arnold pass this season – at home to Wolves in the FA Cup. But the 23-year-old just isn’t in the right head space at the moment.
Trent though certainly is. Since his shift in position we’ve seen a renewed energy in the England man’s game. Gone is the lethargy and complacency that accompanied much of his games this season.
In its place is a player who looks determined to show just how good he is. As Jurgen says, he’s a special, special talent. Today wasn’t his absolute best display, but he still produced perhaps the game’s outstanding moment. In short, he’s a game changer.