Jamie Carragher insists that Liverpool have to “go and buy a right-back” this summer because Trent Alexander-Arnold “needs some serious competition”… as the Liverpool legend says, “we all know their defense isn’t good enough.” good”.
Trent Alexander-Arnold ‘needs some serious competition’ at right-back if Liverpool are to consistently qualify for the Champions League, Reds legend Jamie Carragher claimed as he admitted ‘we all know their defense isn’t good enough’.
The right-back’s defensive weaknesses were on display once again during Real Madrid’s 1-0 win at the Bernabéu, which led the Spanish giants to a 6-2 aggregate win in the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday.
Alexander-Arnold, who has played an integral role in Jurgen Klopp’s success at Anfield over the past few seasons thanks to his creativity, has been continually exposed in defense this campaign, contributing to what has been a poor campaign for Liverpool.
The Reds are now out of the Champions League and risk missing out on qualification for next season’s competition as they sit sixth in the Premier League and six points out of fourth.
Urging Liverpool to sign a new right-back this summer, Carragher insisted that Alexander-Arnold “needs help” in the role, having played week after week every season for the last four or five years.
Jamie Carragher gave an in-depth assessment of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s problems at Liverpool
Out-of-form full-back Alexander-Arnold has struggled defensively for the Reds this season
He urged Jurgen Klopp to sign a new right-back to give Alexander-Arnold “serious competition”
“It’s very, very concerning,” Carragher said. CBS Sports. Not just for Liverpool as a team, but for him. And what I mean by that is this can’t go on, what’s happened this season and the number of times he’s been failing defensively.
The problem they have in that position is that they’ve never had any real competition for Trent Alexander-Arnold. And one of the reasons for that is because he’s been so good. So you’re thinking “who do you buy from?”. How much do you spend for someone who isn’t really going to play every week?
“I think Liverpool are at a point where they have to buy a right-back. It’s Jurgen Klopp’s decision how good that right-back is, how much it costs, but that lad needs serious competition. He’s been playing at the highest level now every season, week after week without a break.
He’s won everything, he’s been fantastic and he’s done everything I could dream of. I’m very proud of him, a local boy coming up the ranks. But he needs help. At the end of this season, he needs to think hard about where he is at as a right-back.”
Carragher went on to suggest that Alexander-Arnold is suffering considerably from Liverpool’s slump in form this season as he is tasked with defending more often rather than moving forward and playing to his strengths.
The pundit said that when Liverpool play like one of the best teams in Europe, Alexander-Arnold is released from his defensive shackles and given license to move forward.
But now that Liverpool are experiencing a considerable dip in form, and are simply fighting for Champions League qualification in the Premier League rather than titles, Carragher wonders if Alexander-Arnold is the right man for him. the post.
And he added: ‘I have always defended him because he plays for one of the best teams in the world. So you attack much more than you defend. We all know that his defense is not good enough. And I don’t think it’s ever good enough.
The defensive weaknesses of the right back were once again evident against Vinicius Jr on Wednesday
Carragher fears that Alexander-Arnold is not the right man for the job if Liverpool continue to fight only for Champions League qualification each season instead of titles.
We are talking about a player who has played 260 games, he is not going to improve much.
“When Liverpool go down and they’re not one of the best teams in Europe, then you’re doing more defending and less attacking.” We’re looking at Trent’s worst traits and not his future strengths. And that is a huge problem.
“I thought this problem would arise when Klopp left, and Liverpool went back to playing like when I was a player, where most seasons we were trying to qualify in the top four.” But if Liverpool are trying to qualify for the Champions League every year, I’m not sure Trent is your man at right-back.
“If Liverpool go back to being one of the best teams in Europe, which they will try to do next season, he is your man. But right now the lad needs help.