Frank Leboeuf has claimed that Trent Alexander-Arnold is ‘never’ going to improve as a defensive player for Liverpool.
It’s shaping up to be a very difficult season for the 23-year-old, it has to be said.
Alexander-Arnold has made a number of defensive errors since the start of the campaign, beginning in the 2-2 draw at Fulham on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
The Liverpool academy player was also questionable in the defeat away to Manchester United and in the 3-3 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion this past weekend.
The England international is no stranger to criticism about the defensive side of his game, and former France centre-back Leboeuf has told ESPN that Alexander-Arnold simply isn’t going to get any better in this regard.
He said, as quoted by Inside Futbol: “I really think that Trent Alexander-Arnold is a great player and he will never improve defensively, because he doesn’t have the basics.”
You do, however, have to admire the player’s fortitude.
That’s because everytime there’s criticism about his defending, Alexander-Arnold, who earns £180,000 per week, reminds everybody what a stunning attacking asset he is.
Last night, he scored a fine free kick in Liverpool’s Champions League victory over Rangers at Anfield and suddenly that’s the conversation again, what a brilliant technician he is.
Leboeuf might be right in saying that he’ll never become a world-class player regarding the right-back position, but so long as he continues to help Liverpool at the other end of the field, even when attack and defence is his priority, then he’ll still remain a massive player for the Anfield outfit.
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