Jamie Carragher labelled Trent Alexander-Arnold as the ‘pass master’ after Liverpool beat Benfica 3-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final Champions League tie on Tuesday night.
Micah Richards added by stating that his involvement in Liverpool’s second goal was ‘sensational’.
It was Alexander-Arnold’s typical darting ball into the box that was pinged right on Luis Diaz’s head, who nodded the ball down for Sadio Mane to add to Ibrahima Konate’s opener.
A lot has been made of the build-up to this quarter-final Champions League tie because of what’s on the horizon.
But Jurgen Klopp and his players have provided themselves with a much-needed cushion for the second leg at Anfield, as they try to deal with Manchester City, both in the Premier League and in the FA Cup, in between.
Nonetheless, Carragher and Richards, whilst speaking on CBS Sports on Paramount+ (05/04/22 at 8:55 pm), were full of praise for Liverpool’s playmaker on the flanks yesterday
“Trent Alexander-Arnold, the man I call the pass master,” said Carragher. “Look at that, right on the money to Diaz and my boy Mane (finishes it off).”
Richards added: “It’s a sensational ball. One-touch, two touch and there’s the goal.”
It needs to be remembered that this was Alexander-Arnold’s first game since the hamstring injury he suffered before the international break.
Just how much of a problem that injury was, only those at Liverpool will know because it wouldn’t be a surprise if it was the old Sir Alex Ferguson trick from those inside Anfield.
Nonetheless, Alexander-Arnold can ping balls about like that in his sleep, after a six-month lay-off, on the beach, in a telephone box and with a Playstation controller in hand.
The Anfield academy product is just an outstanding talent and he’s going to be testing Manchester City’s backline on Sunday, that’s for sure.
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