Trent Alexander-Arnold Scouting Report At Liverpool 2018/19: A Playmaker In Disguise?

All football fans love a homegrown talent and none more so than the Anfield faithful.

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp embraces his club’s culture and traditions and gives opportunities to the club’s young talents.

So when injuries hit first choice Liverpool right-back Nathaniel Clyne in the 2016-17 season, Klopp looked to the academy graduates for a solution, rather than a stop-gap from the senior squad.

Enter Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Liverpool born youngster had been at the Merseyside club since he was 8 years old.

When the opportunity came knocking, the teenager grabbed his first team chance with both hands and has held on ever since.

We take a look at what Alexander-Arnold has done to cement his place as Liverpool’s first choice right-back.

Right Flank

Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool, predominantly line up in a 4-3-3 formation.

The front 3 are very fluid and number 9 Roberto Firmino often drops deep both to receive the ball and to drag defenders out of position in what is known as a ‘false 9’ role.

This can create room for inverted wingers Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to attack, each cutting in centrally onto their preferred foot.

The midfield 3 typically organise with one player sitting deep in a covering/deep-lying playmaker role, a modern number 6.

The other two midfielders, Keita and Milner, are hardworking box-to-box central players, heavily involved in all phases of play whether attacking or defending.

That leaves both full-backs with the responsibility of providing width.

Wide options in attack are crucial when playing against compact and organised defences.

The profile of a quality full-back suited to this system is a youthful, very energetic, pacey, aggressive player who can dominate the flank on their own.

Trent Alexander-Arnold boasts all these qualities and more, playing with the maturity and character needed to fit seamlessly into a team with genuine world-class players like Alisson Becker, Virgil Van Dijk and Mo Salah.

Liverpool have got off to a flying start in their 2018/19 Premier League campaign and have dominated most of the play in their 3 matches thus far.

Klopp’s Liverpool will look to maintain possession in their opposition’s half should their opponents look to sit in a deep defensive block, which is mostly what Liverpool have faced so far in games against West Ham, Crystal Palace and Brighton.