The introduction of Trent Alexander-Arnold as a late substitute against Tottenham was rather overshadowed by the drama of the day. But the Liverpool midfielder’s return to fitness could be a major factor in their season.
Alexander-Arnold has long been the country’s most creative defender and his role has been reshaped by Jürgen Klopp since April, when he was thrust into his new hybrid role against Arsenal. In possession he is now a central midfielder. And he loves it.
Speaking to Alexander-Arnold at Anfield in the week he turns 25, he reflects on the tactical journey he has been on and why this change is so exciting. “It creates many more opportunities and options for me on the ball,” he says Air sports.
At first it was a little awkward. Liverpool lost by two points that afternoon against the then leader in the Premier League. “The difference between the first and second half against Arsenal was huge. You could see it was starting to work and we kept going from there.”
Liverpool still haven’t lost if he starts in that role.
Alexander-Arnold is keen to emphasize that he did not start from scratch in midfield. “It’s not that I didn’t know how to receive a ball and how to pass a ball. The basics were there. It was just setting up a system that worked and got the best out of everyone.”
But there are differences now. “Big differences,” he says. “On the right side of the field you are quite limited because you are usually quite close to the touchline so you cannot pass to the right. If you are in the center you can pass to the left And right.”
We’ve seen that pass into the right channel before for Mohamed Salah, cutting through the defense for the second goal in the win over Aston Villa in September. “It opens up the opportunity to pass right to Mo or whoever is occupying space out there.”
There are still those balls. Some beauties for Luis Diaz and a slightly different relationship with Andy Robertson. “The only time I was paired with Robbo was a big change of play. Now it’s a much shorter pass.” He is now the center of everything.
“It’s much more connected,” says Alexander-Arnold. “I feel like I can dictate games there too. You get more of an opportunity to get on the ball and dictate the tempo, dictate when and where we attack. Just that feeling of being in control of the game.”
In some ways he feels made for this role. His vision allows him to see those longer passes and his technique is such that he can execute them. Only Kieran Trippier has passed six or more defenders more often than Alexander-Arnold.
The difference is that the others high on that list are goalkeepers and defenders, and they do so from deep. Alexander-Arnold is now getting closer to the opponent’s goal. He has created more through balls than any other Premier League player since changing roles.
The game no longer takes place just for him and that is a challenge. More options for his passes, that’s positive. More angles from which he can be expropriated, that’s difficult. It requires a 360 degree view. “That was a big change, especially in the beginning,” he explains.
“When you receive the ball as a full-back, you never have to pay attention to your shoulders because no one is going to sneak up on you from behind. But in there they are all around you, coming at you from all sides and pushing in in ways that you’ve never felt before.
“It’s not just about me and the types of passes and where I pass from, that’s exciting. It’s about how I get the ball, control my shoulders, understand, ask questions, find answers, absorb information and just try to make the system works.
“It’s the same for everyone. A lot of the players, their positions and what’s asked of them has also changed because of my role and this new system. It’s not just me. A lot is asked of everyone.” otherwise it works.”
Crucially, even though Alexander-Arnold has been deployed as an outright midfielder at times in pre-season, he is still Liverpool’s right-back when he is out of possession. That is a complication because his hybrid role requires constant concentration.
It explains why Klopp now wants to see a more measured match. “The system only works well when we have control of the game and control of the ball. With controlled possession it means that people are really able to get in, adapt and move,” says Alexander-Arnold.
“If it gets a bit end-to-end, like a basketball game, and I’m asked to go out wide and come in and do that every time we win or lose the ball, you’re going to end up getting caught because of the way the system is. That’s what we discovered.’
It has, he says, “been a time of learning,” but he has always embraced that. At heart he is still the ‘normal Liverpool boy whose dream has just come true’, as the mural, just yards away on Sybil Road, states. The work ethic to keep the dream alive continues.
He briefly discusses the Trent’s vision project he worked on with ophthalmologist Dr. Daniel Laby, in an attempt to improve his consciousness. “It’s about that small percent. As an individual you have to find something that gives you an advantage over the rest,” he says.
“The margins are fine. It may not make the difference day to day, but it could be the difference in one or two games this season where I have seen a pass and been able to play it because of the extra work I have done have done.” have committed themselves off the field.”
There are like-minded people in the group, players who share this attitude, including the newcomers. “They have really believed in what we are trying to achieve and have shown signs that they want to achieve the same.” None more so than Dominik Szoboszlai.
Liverpool supporters have noticed a budding bromance on social media, Alexander-Arnold acknowledges. “We share the same ideas, the same mentality.” But he firmly backtracks on the suggestion that they will share free kicks from now on.
“I’ve had conversations with him, to be honest, and I told him he’s done with it now,” he answers dryly. “He’s had his chance. He has that quality, but against West Ham he had two that hit the wall. I think he might be wrong.” Friendship has its limits.
How far this new Liverpool can go remains to be seen, but the goal, both individually and collectively, is clear. “Win the competition,” he says emphatically. A trip to Brighton on Sunday will be a test, especially as Liverpool look to regain the control they need.
“They are the masters at it,” he adds.
“It will be difficult to control the game there, not many teams can do that. If we get the chance to do it we have to make sure we do it effectively and set up defensively in such a way that they cannot control the game. ” as much as they really want.”
With Trent Alexander-Arnold back, and in this new hybrid role, Liverpool are entitled to take their chances again.