Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is perfectly-suited to his new inverted full-back role and is superior technically to Arsenal’s Premier League leader Oleksandr Zinchenko, according to one former England international.
It’s a debate that has followed Liverpool’s number 66 throughout much of his career. While an outstanding attacking right-back, would something akin to a central midfield role make better use of Alexander-Arnold’s strengths while minimising his well-publicised defensive weaknesses?
Well, Jurgen Klopp appears to have uncovered a way in which Alexander-Arnold can play both positions at once. Like during the thrilling 2-2 draw against Arsenal, the England international found himself drifting into a central – ‘inverted’ – role during Monday’s 6-1 thrashing of Leeds United.
The 24-year-old produced arguably his finest performance of a very hit-and-miss season too; setting up goals for Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez as Liverpool ran riot in West Yorkshire.
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold impressing in a new role
“That’s his role,” ex-Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland and Charlton striker Bent tells talkSPORT.
“He’s the inverted full-back. And because of his technique and ability on the ball, he could probably play that role better than any full-back in the league.”
A tactic made popular by Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich; pupils Mikel Arteta and Erik ten Hag appear to be taking inspiration from their old master, Zinchenko thriving in a hybrid role under the former Manchester City assistant at the Emirates Stadium.
But even the Arsenal-mad Bent accepts that Zinchenko is trailing in Alexander-Arnold’s wake when it comes to sheer ball-playing potential.
“That inverted full-back role, Zinchenko is unbelievable at it in terms of dropping in,” Bent adds. “(But) Trent has got better technique than Zinchenko, his range of passing.
“If you can get the best out of Trent playing in that position, oh my goodness.”
Alexander-Arnold has produced only five Premier League assists all season, with nearly half of those coming in West Yorkshire this week. Ibrahima Konate, meanwhile, was expected to drift wide out to the ride to provide cover when Liverpool were in possession.
Liverpool are still yet to perfect a new-look tactic. Konate’s error gifting Leeds a consolation goal – Klopp believes the early signs look good.
“It opened up different opportunities for us,” Klopp explains. “If you watch it back after we learned to use it.
“I thought (Alexander-Arnold) did well. It was not the first time (he has played in this role), but not for a while.
“That’s why I’m fine with how he executed it.”
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