Liverpool is just a Premier League trophy away from equalling Manchester United’s record of 20 league titles. A title deciding fixture lays ahead as they face Manchester City which can prove to be pivotal in regaining the PL throne once again for the Liverpool army. Klopp’s master class tactics and Salah’s blistering form this season has helped the reds to come an inch closer to the trophy. Let’s not forget to mention another name who has played an immense role in coming closer to the title and that is Trent Alexander Arnold.
Despite being a part of the defence, he has been able to register 12 PL assists in 2018/19 season, 13 PL assists in 2019/2020 season and already has 11 assists so far this season. Often, we have seen Liverpool dominating the opposition’s defence when the counter is from the flanks. It is once again Trent with those intricate passes that helps his team-mates receive those accurate crosses.
What makes this 23-year-old man special is that he possesses some unique passing ability. The speed with which he releases the ball is crucial for his team mates. Arnold aims for this space and Liverpool’s attackers make runs into that gap. His ball control is so good and pinpoint that he sometimes delivers the ball into the penalty area before the opposition is set.
Similar traits were found in David Beckham but there’s one area where this young man leaps ahead of him and that is his blistering pace and dribbling ability which comes in very handy while making those crosses and even while defending.
Let’s dive into the past and remember that night in Anfield when a ferocious looking Barcelona by likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Dembele came to defend their 3-0 advantage in the second leg of the UCL semi-final in Anfield. A quick opening goal by Origi gave Liverpool the confidence to bounce back on the opposition, followed by a quick turn of events when Wijnaldum scored two headers inside a space of two minutes bringing the game on level terms. In the 79th minute of the game, Trent produced a masterclass act as he put forward a cheeky ball to Origi from a corner that was easily put inside the net leaving the Barcelona team and the Catalan fans in utter shock and distress. Anfield roared with cheers and happiness as they did the unthinkable. Arnold was a key man again in such a crucial game. Later they went on becoming the European champions for the sixth in their clubs history.
Alexander Arnold is calm and capable in possession. Recently, he has started moving into central positions, from where he can lift the ball over the top, helping the forwards to chase. In Jürgen Klopp’s preferred 4-3-3, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson provide Liverpool’s width. With the above-mentioned notable changes in his positions during the game he has adapted a better passing ability and which more importantly help him have most of the possession.
We just need to sit back and think how far this young man is going to go in the near future. With only 23 years of age and being a crucial part of one of the best teams in Europe makes this man a hot prospect. Liverpool is a tough team to beat and the back four by the likes of Van Dijk, Robertson, Trent and Konate makes it even stronger. These are some instances that show that he’s going to be an important part not only of the Liverpool team but also for the England squad as well. The form with which he’s currently possessing and the number of chances he’s producing day in and day out, Gareth Southgate is very likely going to make him the starter for the upcoming Qatar World cup.
ARNOLD’S STATS THIS SEASON- (2021/22) [Till Date of this Article]
PL- GOALS- 2, ASSISTS- 11 (MP-26)
UCL- GOALS- 1, ASSISTS- 0 (MP-6)
EFL CUP- GOALS- 0, ASSISTS- 2 (MP-3)
