Have Liverpool missed Nathaniel Clyne more than they realised?

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With Trent Alexander-Arnold struggling for form recently, is Nathaniel Clyne a bigger loss for Liverpool than many first thought?

Jurgen Klopp (l) and Pep Guardiola react during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool.

One of the big positives for Liverpool under manager Jurgen Klopp in recent times has been the emergence of Trent Alexander-Arnold from the academy into the first team.

Not since Raheem Sterling in 2012 – who himself was a signing from QPR aged 15 in any case – has a player come through the ranks at Anfield to become a regular in the starting XI.

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold runs with the ball.

Alexander-Arnold isn’t quite there yet, of course, with 17 senior appearances to his name to date since making his debut last season against Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup, but early signs are promising.

Unfortunately the form of the 18-year-old has lead some to get a little carried away and start to dismiss the need for usual first choice right-back Nathaniel Clyne, who has not played since injuring his back in a pre-season friendly against Tranmere Rovers in July.

The prolonged absence of Clyne – with Klopp recently revealing to the club’s official website that he is “pretty certain he’ll not be available for the majority of the Champions League group matches”, the last of which is against Spartak Moscow on December 6 – has seen the 26-year-old’s contribution to the team somewhat dismissed.

Nathaniel Clyne of Liverpool during a pre-season friendly match against Tranmere Rovers.

Yet some poor recent performances against Burnley and Manchester City in the Premier League suggests Alexander-Arnold is perhaps not ready to fill the England international’s shoes permanently just yet; which should not be surprising considering his age and inexperience.

Joe Gomez and Jon Flanagan have also occupied Clyne’s position at times this term with varying success, but his absence from the team is maybe being harder felt than many first realised.