As he returns from day trip with damage, there was discourse over whether or not Trent Alexander-Arnold is a assured starter. However he’s nonetheless Liverpool’s game-breaker.
Liverpool are doing so much proper this season.
Prime of the league, alive in 4 competitions, together with a visit to Wembley for the Carabao Cup remaining.
Jurgen Klopp even has a welcome choice headache, with the likes of Joe Gomez and teenager Conor Bradley excelling within the absence of injured team-mates.
Nevertheless, there’s nonetheless one participant who deserves to be first up on the teamsheet: Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Structural integrity
Structurally, Liverpool are a giant enchancment on final season.
The everyday 4-3-3 can develop into a 4-4-2 out of possession, whereas intervals of sustained possession can result in the 3-box-3 form.
Klopp has additionally pivoted to a extra versatile fashion inside every system, aided by the current signings of multi-talented gamers like Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool 2.0 method video games in numerous methods and make efficient in-game changes.
For instance, we usually see Liverpool’s centre-backs cut up in buildup, forming a again three with the left-back, whereas Alexander-Arnold strikes right into a central pivot function.
However in opposition to groups who commit greater numbers to the press, Liverpool can use Alisson as an additional centre-back and kind a again 4.
And in opposition to extra player-oriented marking techniques, equivalent to Brentford‘s, Liverpool can rotate the gamers in every place fluidly to disrupt the opposition’s construction and discover the spare participant in area.
Out of possession, the Reds have additionally develop into simpler.
Their urgent lure for Aston Villa‘s Pau Torres was extremely efficient, creating an early nook from which they opened the scoring.
However in opposition to extra complicated buildup shapes, equivalent to Brighton‘s, Liverpool have additionally succeeded in forcing turnovers excessive up the pitch by urgent in better quantity.
The primary half of the season confirmed that Liverpool might be efficient in all phases of play in opposition to quite a lot of opponents – one thing Klopp demanded in pre-season.
However there are many groups on the market who press nicely and construct up successfully.
The rarest of footballing beasts is required to achieve the very high degree: the game-breaker.
Particular person ingenuity
Alexander-Arnold’s vary of passing, coupled together with his studying of the sport and his function within the group, have allowed him to imagine this mantle.
Let’s take a look at that Villa recreation once more for an instance.
We’re used to seeing Trent invert into the midfield by now, however he’s simply as more likely to drop again out into the final line if that’s the place the area is for him.
Towards Villa’s aggressive press, Alexander-Arnold does so, encouraging the guests to chase him. The Villa again line squeeze as much as keep compact, opening up area in behind.
Having created this chance, he performs an ideal go excessive, and Liverpool rating.
These passes don’t even should be significantly spectacular.
Towards Newcastle at residence, Alexander-Arnold confirmed for the ball regardless of being surrounded by black-and-white shirts.
His choices seem restricted, with possibly a brief sideways go on if he can squeeze by way of the hole.
Alexander-Arnold, nevertheless, punches a ball by way of the strains to Darwin Nunez…
…who finally ends up getting one-on-one, although the ‘keeper in the end thwarted him.
Structurally this was Liverpool’s possession vs. Newcastle‘s press; then Alexander-Arnold obtained concerned, broke that construction and turned the state of affairs into an opportunity for Liverpool to attain.
Recreation breaker
This skill to interrupt the sport open has seen Alexander-Arnold develop into the point of interest of Liverpool’s system.
Whether or not it’s popping up on and bombing down the flanks, dropping between the centre-backs to play a quarterback function or transferring into midfield when his group wants a aim, Alexander-Arnold has the liberty – and the burden – of dictating video games for Liverpool.
In his absence, Liverpool relied on their urgent and their buildup play to outfox their opponents structurally.
Irrespective of how good the Reds are at this – and as we’ve seen, they’re superb – this method has a ceiling.
Alexander-Arnold’s function within the group has been playfully questioned given the rise of Bradley at right-back. The Northern Irishman’s power, dynamism and attacking high quality have powered him to a number of Man of the Match shows.
In consequence, some have speculated that Klopp could have to be artistic with the intention to match Alexander-Arnold again in round Bradley.
However together with his distinctive game-breaking high quality, Alexander-Arnold has earned the proper to flip the query on its head.
No one on this squad can replicate his affect on the sport – that’s why Liverpool needed to adapt in his absence.
Klopp’s actual dilemma is that if he can match Bradley in round Alexander-Arnold – crucial participant in his group.
