Liverpool icon Graeme Souness suggests Trent Alexander-Arnold to stick to playing full-back
Liverpool’s legendary figure, Graeme Souness, recently shared his thoughts on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s potential transition into midfield. Souness believes that Alexander-Arnold should remain at his current position as a full-back, despite suggestions from various pundits pushing for a midfield move.
Having witnessed Alexander-Arnold’s growth and versatility on the pitch, Souness understands why some people advocate for the talented player to play in midfield permanently. After all, Trent began his football journey as a midfielder before eventually excelling in the full-back position. However, Souness has a different point of view. Here is what he exclusively told talkSPORT:
“I think he would shine against the lesser teams and everyone’s got time and space to get set up because he’s a wonderful passer of the ball. I just feel against the better teams he might pass them by when he’s got to maybe have the awareness and the defensive head on to do the other side of the job.”
“Playing full-back is the easiest position on the pitch to play. I’ll tell you. When you were a kid and you were your mates and you’d come to the park to play football and you’d hold your hand up, I want to be centre forward, I want to be right winger, I want to be centre mid. Did anyone hold their hand up and say I want to play full-back? You end up either in goal or play full-back when I was a kid, if you couldn’t play.”
He argues that while Alexander-Arnold’s exceptional passing skills could be an asset in midfield, it might not translate well against stronger opponents. Souness highlights the importance of defensive awareness and responsibilities, which are crucial for a midfielder, especially when facing formidable teams.
For Souness, the role of a full-back is one of the easier tasks on the pitch. He probably spoke about his playing days when the not-so-gifted players played in goal or as full-backs. However, as Souness has aged, the game has aged as well and most of Liverpool’s attacking output comes from our full-backs, who are under constant criticism when the team as a whole concedes goals.
Should Trent move to midfield?
His unique abilities as a playmaker from the right flank have been a trademark of Liverpool’s attacking strategy under Jurgen Klopp. Having said that, his defensive vulnerabilities have often taken the forefront whenever the Reds face a counter. That is why the debate of shifting Trent to midfield has come up more often than not in recent weeks.
In the few games towards the end of last season, Trent took up a hybrid role and was flourishing in that as well. As a whole, his dynamic style of play, vision, and precise deliveries have been pivotal in creating numerous attacking opportunities and scoring chances for the Reds.
As the debate surrounding Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to midfield continues, Klopp and the coaching staff must carefully consider both his long-term development and the team’s tactical needs.
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Souness is a legend in his own right, but he probably got it wrong this time. Trent in midfield could be our very own Kevin de Bruyne or something on those lines. Exciting times ahead.
