Paul Merson praised Liverpool defender, Trent Alexander-Arnold, as a ‘special’ player and someone who always wants to get on the ball, as he told Sky Sports (10/04/21 at 5:15 pm).
Just like going down the sweet shop and buying a pick n mix, you just don’t know what you are going to get from Liverpool’s academy product, from one week to the other.
Well, over the weekend, his sweet pin-point strike from the edge of the area helped Liverpool record a stoppage-time win over Aston Villa.
A lot of talk has been about whether TAA should board that plane to the Euros and Merson explained why he would take him to a World Cup, but not to a European Championships.
“Fair play to him, he does get a bit of stick,” said Merson. “I said before the game that I don’t think he will go. But you have to give him credit.
“He makes a mistake in midweek but comes out and wants the ball. For the winning goal, he could easily be on the halfway line. And he doesn’t.
“Absolutely outstanding. He’s probably a (victim) of his own success because he has done so well over the last couple of years. To put in the type of performances, he has, is going to be hard for the young lad.
“If it was a World Cup then I would take him. I would take him in a World Cup. But there are no free games in these (Euros). It’s a hard one. I feel for the lad.
“I love players when it’s not going well they always keep wanting the ball. And he does that. He is special like that.”
Trent’s biggest test lies on Wednesday night when Real Madrid travel down from Spain to Merseyside for a second leg Champions League showdown.
This game might just suit the England international because Liverpool have to be on the front foot, and depending on the midfield battle, they might have more of the ball.
Either way, if there is a repeat of his defensive mistake from the first leg then a certain Gary Neville will be making sure Jamie Carragher knows about it.
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