Analysis: Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold was colossal against Arsenal
It is almost a weekly sight for Premier League fans. Make no mistake, Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold is certainly among the top three players across the English first division in terms of ability on the ball. The Anfield faithful are not new to watching him ping the ball from one end to another, but as he continues to gain traction and attention from the media for the right reasons, it surely brings Liverpool fans joy.
In a game as crunch as a top-two clash in the league, Trent was surely the best player on the pitch across both sides against Mikel Arteta’s men. After Arsenal took the lead early on with Gabriel Magalhaes heading home the opener, Liverpool replied in 25 minutes with Mohamed Salah scoring the Reds’ goal.
It was a typical Liverpool goal from the wing with Mo catching a precise long ball from the backline, dribbling past the opposition left-back, in this case, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and slotting a shot past David Raya who could not do much about it. Usually, it is skipper Virgil van Dijk who plays the best diagonal long passes in the league, but against the Gunners, it was Trent who pinged it inch-perfect.
Statistics from our friends over at FotMob reveal that Trent played an astonishing 19 passes into the final third. Almost three times that of the next-best Liverpool player on that list. Virgil van Dijk had only seven. Declan Rice was next on that list after Trent, and he also had only 11.
The Scouser in our team
With his assist from over 50 yards against the Gunners, Trent now has 57 assists in the Premier League; the joint-highest for a defender. What makes things merry is to know who he shares that record with. Fellow full-back Andy Robertson. Knowing their chemistry, Robbo and Trent will surely take each other on in a healthy race to see who shall be on top at the end of the season.
Hopefully, Robbo recovers soon and gives Trent that sense of internal competition to bring the best out of both players. TAA now has also assisted seven goals in 12 appearances in the Premier League against Arsenal, equal with Steven Gerrard. Decent company that.
This player is something out of the ordinary and is about time people start to focus on the positive aspect of his play rather than magnifying the odd error. Right-backs in the North East are not half as scrutinised as Trent after being guilty of letting the opposition score; and twice.
More Liverpool News!
- Fulham ahead in the race to secure Liverpool’s target and Fluminense midfielder Andre
- Trent Alexander-Arnold compares Liverpool’s performance from last season to the current one ahead of clash against Arsenal
- Liverpool’s young winger eyed by Championship clubs for a loan deal ahead of January
Right-backs in London are yet to play for a prolonged period of time. Trent is by far, the best.
