Michael Owen and Ian Wright sympathised with Trent Alexander-Arnold who they feel will ‘get stick’ for the opening goal Liverpool conceded during their 3-2 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.
The former England strikers highlighted Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip for the roles they played in Jurgen Klopp’s side conceding inside the first minute following a Gabriel Martinelli first-time finish inside his own box.
From the very first game this season, a lot has been made of Liverpool’s defence and how brittle the Merseyside club have looked.
From Alexander-Arnold to Virgil van Dijk, players have looked like the shadow of players that were once lifting the Premier League title, European Cup, League Cup and FA Cup.
Liverpool’s academy star on the right, who went off injured at the break, has had his fair share of stick and question marks, both on the domestic and international stage.
But whilst the 24-year-old might just be an easy target following yesterday’s defeat, both Owen and Wright were sure to highlight how others were to blame for Liverpool’s shambolic opening against Arsenal, as they told Premier League Productions (09/10/22 at 5:30 pm).
“We highlight Thiago, he has a huge decision to make,” said Owen. “Does he go here (go out wide to engage with Saka) or does he hold?”
Wright responded: “I think he should hold. Once he doesn’t hold. He goes in and he can’t do anything. He can’t actually win the ball, but what he also does with that is he leaves Odegaard.
“From that position, then Jordan Henderson has to come across. Odegaard then goes past Henderson and he gets into a position where he is free to pass the ball – he had no-one to pick him up.”
Owen added: “If Matip is up alongside his man by Virgil van Dijk, then this is offside. If he squeezed up, then it would have been offside and the knockout effects start.”
Wright then stated: “Then Trent has a massive problem because he has a man on the outside of him and on the inside. Do I stay? Then the ball has to be perfect, which it is and he has the time to do it because he has no-one picking him up.”
Owen on Trent’s role: “Can Trent do anymore? He is probably going to get stick for it. But I think he gets tight enough into the centre-half.”
Wright agreed: “I do. I think the ball is also a good ball.”
LIVERPOOL IN TROUBLE
These signs aren’t looking great for Liverpool and it’s a case of what isn’t going wrong than what is.
Individual players have fallen off a cliff, the midfield looks like it’s not even worthy to compete in midtable, the bite has gone out of attack and even a change of formation yesterday didn’t alter the club’s fortunes.
The only short-time medicine for these problems is just simply winning games. But their defence can’t stop conceding the first goal to try and just get something going.
Well, another defining week could be awaiting Liverpool because, after their tough and hostile trip to Ibrox on Wednesday night for the Champions League, it’s a small matter of facing champions Manchester City.
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