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Gary Neville believes it is too late for Trent Alexander-Arnold to be coached into a new position at Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp’s experiment in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
Alexander-Arnold has had his defensive deficiencies exposed at times this season as Liverpool have struggled to emulate their quadruple-chasing quest of the 2021/22 season.
Gareth Southgate overlooked the Liverpool right-back for his most recent England squad, and after struggling to impress in last weekend’s 4-1 defeat at Manchester City, Klopp opted to field the 24-year-old in a defensive midfield position at times when in possession during Sunday’s entertaining draw with Arsenal.
The tactical switch yielded mixed results, with Alexander-Arnold struggling to get to grips in the first half with Gabriel Martinelli as Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing Gunners established a deserved 2-0 lead at Anfield.
Alexander-Arnold played his part in the fightback – almost literally – as the game shifted momentum, coincidentally or otherwise, after a scuffle between Granit Xhaka and the full-back that riled up an already-raucous home crowd.
Mohamed Salah capitalised with a goal just before half-time, and though he later missed a penalty, Liverpool’s pressure told when Roberto Firmino headed in an 87th-minute equaliser from Alexander-Arnold’s cross.
Neville said Klopp should veer away from using Alexander-Arnold in a specialist central position.
“He was absolutely sensational going forward,” he said. I admire him enormously.
“Alexander-Arnold would drift into midfield in any case given the freedom being at right-back gives him, but if he was actually down to play in midfield away from home in the Premier League and he was getting the ball popped into him, when he’s got his back to play, that’s a different ball game.”
“Some of the best midfielders in the world, the Xavis, Iniestas, they’re the ones who can manipulate the ball and Rodri does it very well. Jurgen Klopp tried to play him in a different position today, he tried to pull him into midfield – Zinchenko-like, John Stones-like – but he could definitely play wing-back as there is a right-sided centre-back who can shift into the channel to deal with the straight balls.”
“He doesn’t need to become the best defender in the world. He just cannot be a liability. He doesn’t have to be a great defender with the way in which he attacks. I don’t think anybody is asking for that.”
“You’re just asking for a little bit of competence and attention to your work. The conversation will continue about him. I hope somehow over the summer the penny drops and he realises that his defensive work is hurting him.”
“It’s hurting him because he’s been left out of the England squad. How can that talent be left out of an England squad?”
“When you’re playing for a team that is out of form such as Liverpool, those weaknesses get exposed a little bit more.”
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