Liverpool told they’ve already got a midfielder who’s better than Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham

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Dean Saunders has claimed that Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is already better than Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, Saunders launched into making some huge claims about Alexander-Arnold’s ability in a more central position. 

Alexander-Arnold has been playing a more advanced role for Liverpool in recent weeks, which has really exemplified his skill-set.

After being shifted into a more central position when Liverpool have possession, Alexander-Arnold has been a key attacking weapon for the Reds.

While he was always a threat from right-back, the 24-year-old has just become even more vital to Liverpool’s build-up.

He gets on the ball more, plays more passes and even has started to become a goalscoring threat.

The switch in role has also helped Alexander-Arnold defensively, as he no longer has to go one on one against a winger so often, with Ibrahima Konate often stepping out into the right-back space when he has wandered forward.

And Saunders has been so impressed by the way that Alexander-Arnold has taken to the role that he already thinks he is a more talented midfielder than the likes of Rice and Bellingham, both of whom have been said to be on Liverpool’s radar in recent months. 

“I honestly think Liverpool don’t need to sign a midfield player,” he said.

“I think he’s better than all the English midfield players.

“I think Trent could play centre midfield for England and end up captain. He’s like caged animal waiting, you can tell he is loving it.

“He can defend, he can run, he can defend in midfield which is not like defending at full-back.

“His feet are better than anybody in the England team, both feet, he can ping the ball, the through balls he’s putting through, he puts his foot in, he’s aggressive.

“Bellingham is playing in a league not as good as this one, I’ll compare him with Bellingham when I see him playing in the Premier League.

“I think Trent is… better than Rice, better than Phillips, better than Henderson, better than Fabinho.”

Better than Bellingham?

As impressive as Alexander-Arnold has been in recent weeks, this feels like jumping the gun slightly.

Liverpool can’t be fooled into thinking that they no longer need to upgrade their midfield, just because the England international has shown an ability to play there.

With Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arthur Melo all leaving, the sheer number of departure means that Liverpool must make additions in midfield.

But there is a clear need to add quality in that area.

While it feels like Alexander-Arnold’s new role may become his permanent position, which does aid Liverpool in a sense, nobody around Anfield would be grumbling if Bellingham or Rice arrived this summer!

And Alexander-Arnold may still have some way to go before he can realistically be considered in quite as high company in his new midfield role, despite his seriously impressive start in the position.