Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence from Liverpool increasingly felt like a big miss this season. The squad is struggling to find consistency in his absence. The creative right-back has been central to the club’s successes. Deal done. Despite indications in July that he would slow down negotiations, he assured that he would not renew and has chosen to pursue a new challenge with Real Madrid. His decision has rattled the storm from the chiaroscuro on the pitch. Not only that, it has addressed the clear void left in the dressing room since the tragic death of teammate Diogo Jota.
In his short time at Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold had laid the groundwork. He tallied 23 goals and 92 assists for a total of 354 games played. His record of 67 assists as a defender in the Premier League era is still unmatched. This rare achievement is a testament to his incredible passing range and amazing ability to control games. Under Jurgen Klopp, he frequently operated in an inverted midfielder role, providing both defensive solidity and attacking creativity inside the penalty area. His precise cross-field balls, often targeting opposite full-back Andy Robertson, became a signature passed on through Liverpool’s attacking movements.
From Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid, he was aware of the burden of his choice. Whatever happens, my love for Liverpool will not be affected. I’ve created my best memories from up there that I hope to hold onto forever,” he added. His answer reiterated his love for the club, despite having left it in the past. His new adventure in Spain hasn’t exactly gone to plan. This season, 156 minutes of playing time so far with zero shot attempts, no goals and no assists.
Unfortunately, Liverpool’s current struggles have shined a light on just how important Alexander-Arnold was to their past success. Since he left, Mohamed Salah hasn’t looked like the same player, and supporters and pundits have started to worry. All this was made possible because the right back gave Salah just enough space to work with. As one Sky Sports analysis explained, that is exactly the type of synergy between the two players. To demonstrate this link, they pointed to Opta’s data on line-breaking passes.
The effects of Alexander-Arnold’s absence extend beyond just Salah. They resonate throughout Liverpool’s attack. Arne Slot, a prominent figure in football analysis, commented on the team’s current situation: “They’ve got problems at full back. They’re missing Trent.” The lack of a player with Alexander-Arnold’s ability to create chances and switch play has left Liverpool grappling with offensive inconsistency.
Liverpool’s tactical approach has suffered. Alexander-Arnold’s inclusion offered versatility in the team’s formation and attacking strategies. “We’ve never seen passing and crossing from a right back of that type ever,” remarked Gary Neville, emphasizing the uniqueness of Alexander-Arnold’s contributions compared to other great right-backs in history.
Real Madrid had tried this with Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal. With his sequential playing time, questions have been raised about how he fits into the team’s new identity with coach Xabi Alonso at the helm. These changes so far have the potential to create even more hurdles, particularly if the shift toward greater dependence on younger players persists without proper infrastructure.
Leave a Reply