Liverpool legend John Aldridge wonders if Jurgen Klopp may be tempted to utilise Trent Alexander-Arnold in a midfield role more often following Sunday’s thrilling Premier League draw with Arsenal.
It’s certainly an ongoing dilemma. How does Klopp make the best use of Alexander-Arnold’s creative talents while minimising his defensive deficiencies?
Is the sort of Pep Guardiola-esque, inverted central midfield role – like the one the England international played against Arsenal at Anfield – a short-term sticking plaster? Or perhaps a long-term solution?
Can Trent become, if you like, the ‘Lahm of Liverpool’?
Will Jurgen Klopp transform Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold?
“I think Trent looked great in that inverted full-back role. I thought he looked really good in there, when stepping into midfield,” Aldridge, a First Division champion in 1988, tells the Liverpool Echo.
“Trent is one of the best right-backs in the world going forward. Possibly the best right-back in the world going forward. But, defensively, he needs protection at times.
“I’ve always thought he’s got to stick at right-back. But we’ve got Joe Gomez who can play right-back. We’ve got the young lads (Calvin) Ramsay and (Conor) Bradley who look promising.
“There wouldn’t be any harm in looking at Trent in that position for future reference. Some of his touches and some of his play was absolutely top drawer in there.”
19-year-old Ramsay, while ‘one for the future’, showed at Aberdeen last season that he can be relied upon to provide Alexander-Arnold-style deliveries from wide areas. In all competitions, the teenager set up nine goals during a superb breakthrough season.
Fellow youngster Bradley, meanwhile, has made quite the impression on loan at Bolton Wanderers; his tally of seven goals and six assists numbers Alexander-Arnold would have been proud of at his peak.
“(Trent is) a player. I’ve seen him play in midfield for Liverpool’s U21s,” Aldridge adds. “He can play in there. Having seen him in that sort of position and how comfortable he was, you wonder how far Jurgen might take it and if he’ll have a real look at him in midfield for future reference.
“It’s an interesting one. Earlier on, last season, I’d have said ‘Nah, stick to right-back,’ because he was that good there. But there’s no harm in having a little look because, in midfield, we need him.”
Liverpool, per Florian Plettenberg, may need to get creative in their pursuit of midfield solutions; Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham too rich for FSG’s blood.
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