Trent Alexander-Arnold: From Right-Back Prodigy to Midfield Maestro
Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to redefine his role at Liverpool Football Club and the England national team, transitioning smoothly from a right-back to a midfield dynamo. Since his professional debut in 2016, the 25-year-old has amassed 310 appearances for Liverpool and is gearing up for the team's 2024-25 campaign.
Alexander-Arnold's contribution to Liverpool has been immense, particularly notable through his assist tallies. In the 2018-19 season, he garnered 12 assists, the third-highest in the Premier League, followed by 13 assists in the subsequent season, second only to Kevin De Bruyne. In the 2021-22 campaign, he achieved 12 assists again, surpassed only by teammate Mohamed Salah. Last season, he excelled with an average of 5.25 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes in the Premier League and Europa League, ranking in the 99th percentile among full-backs in Europe's top five divisions.
Tim Jenkins, a former analyst and assistant coach for Liverpool Under-21s, recalls Alexander-Arnold’s early development with fondness. "He'd played in midfield in Pep Lijnders' Under-16s, at the base of the diamond. He was right in the middle of the pitch and involved in everything." Jenkins observed how Alexander-Arnold's unique skill set allowed him to adapt to various positions, from center-half and full-back for Michael Beale in the Under-15s age group to a right winger or right full-back under Neil Critchley in the Under-18s.
As Jenkins reminisced, "Before the Under-16s, he'd played as a centre-half and a full-back for Michael Beale in the Under-15s age group. He had real momentum about what he was doing." He added, "We played one game against Leicester at home, and Jurgen [Klopp] came to watch. We were 4-0 up before half-time, and he'd created everything from the right. He looked like he'd gone up three or four levels. A week later, we played Tottenham away, and it was the same again. He was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch." These moments signaled Alexander-Arnold's readiness for the first team, and he soon made his debut in the League Cup.
Alexander-Arnold's versatility has not gone unnoticed on the international stage. He's been deployed in midfield for England in six of his last seven starts, showcasing his ability to influence matches from the center of the pitch. Jason McAteer, a former Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers player, noted the evolution of the full-back role, stating, "Today's full-back is a lot more like a wing-back. You've got to get forward. You've got to get balls into the box. And you have this hybrid role where you come into midfield."
Alexander-Arnold embodies this modern footballer archetype. As McAteer put it, "Trent has got that many attributes that you've got to get him into the team. You look at Trent now and he's grown up, he's evolved." Indeed, his gameplay evolution is reflected in his recent performance statistics. Last season, he was in the 99th percentile for expected assisted goals per 90 (0.37) and passes attempted (87.71), and the 98th percentile for progressive passes (8.69).
Despite his attacking prowess, Alexander-Arnold has not been immune to criticism, specifically concerning his defensive skills. "Trent's weakest attribute is his defending, and he was playing as a deep-lying midfielder," McAteer pointed out. "He was great on the ball, but without it, he was exposed and became a bit of a scapegoat." However, McAteer also emphasized Alexander-Arnold's unique strengths, "We look at him as this passing genius, great with the ball at his feet and creative. But in the modern game, you need to be protected."
Tim Jenkins believes Alexander-Arnold's best role is a hybrid one, where he can toggle between a full-back and a midfielder. As Jenkins eloquently summed up, "Klopp would say that sometimes Trent will be on the outside, sometimes he'll be on the inside – wherever he is, he's just going to be Trent."
As the 2024-25 season approaches, Liverpool fans can expect to see a matured and even more versatile Alexander-Arnold, ready to maneuver through roles with the finesse that has characterized his football journey. With his contract set to expire in the summer and rumors linking him to Real Madrid, the coming season could be pivotal for this multifaceted footballing talent.