Trent Alexander-Arnold: The Evolution of a Modern Football Maestro
Since making his debut for Liverpool in 2016, Trent Alexander-Arnold has amassed an impressive 310 appearances for the club. At 25 years old, he is now gearing up for Liverpool's 2024-25 campaign, embodying the spirit and talent that have made him a central figure in contemporary football.
A Versatile Career Path
Primarily recognized for his role as a right-back, Alexander-Arnold's versatility has allowed him to excel in various positions on the pitch. His adaptability is evident from his recent performances for England, where he has played in midfield in six of his last seven starts. This positional flexibility traces back to his early years at Liverpool, where he played as a centre-half and full-back for Michael Beale in the Under-15s age group and as a midfielder in Pep Lijnders' Under-16s team.
Tim Jenkins, a former analyst and assistant coach for Liverpool's Under-21s, shares his insights: "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 also highlights Alexander-Arnold's evolution: "When he went into the Under-18s with Neil Critchley, they started to help him use his physical attributes a bit, so he played on the outside as a right winger or a right full-back."
Early Signs of Greatness
Alexander-Arnold's talent has always been evident. Jenkins recalls a memorable period when Alexander-Arnold had returned to the Under-21s after preseason with the first team: "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."
This rapid progression continued, culminating in his first Premier League start in January 2017 against Manchester United, a game that ended in a 1-1 draw. From assisting more experienced teammates to creating opportunities himself, Alexander-Arnold quickly established himself as a playmaker.
Master of Assists
One of Alexander-Arnold's standout attributes has been his ability to deliver assists. In the 2018-19 season, he registered the third-highest tally of assists in the Premier League with 12. The following season, he bettered this with 13 assists, second only to Kevin De Bruyne. His impact remained strong in the 2021-22 campaign, tallying 12 assists, second only to Mohamed Salah.
Tim Jenkins provides further context: "If you look at the assists from earlier in his career, they came from wide. More recently, he's been able to move inside into the half-space and deliver from there. Trent has had an ideal skill set to adapt to how the game has changed."
Adapting to Modern Football
Alexander-Arnold's adaptability is a testament to his intelligence and work ethic. His average of 5.25 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes last season placed him in the 99th percentile among full-backs in Europe's top five divisions. He was also in the 99th percentile for expected assisted goals per 90 (0.37) and passes attempted (87.71).
Former Liverpool player Jason McAteer notes the evolution of the full-back role: "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." This evolution aligns perfectly with Alexander-Arnold's skill set, allowing him to "roll into the inside of the pitch" and impact the game from multiple zones.
Challenges and Future Prospects
Despite his strengths, Alexander-Arnold has faced challenges, particularly when playing without sufficient defensive support. McAteer explains, "Trent's weakest attribute is his defending and he was playing as a deep-lying midfielder. He was great on the ball, but without it he was exposed and he became a bit of a scapegoat."
Nonetheless, Alexander-Arnold's contributions remain critical. His contract with Liverpool expires in the summer, and he has been linked to Real Madrid. As he prepares for the upcoming season, both club and country will look to harness his unique blend of creativity and vision.
Tim Jenkins sums it up elegantly: "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." With his proven ability to adapt and excel, Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to be one of football's most exciting and dynamic players.