Gary Neville gives incredible defending lesson to Trent Alexander-Arnold, it's a fascinating watch
Gary Neville gave Trent Alexander-Arnold a fascinating lesson in how to defend as a full-back on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football.
Despite his incredible ability on the ball and "obscene" numbers, Alexander-Arnold's defensive qualities have been questioned on a regular basis.
That prompted manager Jurgen Klopp to passionately defend his player and explain that the England international only becomes exposed because of the role he is being asked to play.
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Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are encouraged to play high up the pitch and that often leaves gaps in behind.
On MNF, Neville showed praised on Alexander-Arnold going forward, comparing him to Brazil legend Cafu and salivating over his creative output.
"That is ABSOLUTELY OBSCENE" 😱@GNev2 praises Trent-Alexander Arnold's contributions going forward for Liverpool but highlights where the defender could improve defensively 👇 pic.twitter.com/nacFGX61sv
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 3, 2022
🗣 "This is a Cafu, this is that level of full-back, this is something unbelievably special."@GNev2 says Trent Alexander-Arnold needs to work on his "basics" and then he can become one of the world's best right-backs pic.twitter.com/jmnpUFhVL2
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 3, 2022
🗣 "He always jogs out in an upright position."@GNev2 demonstrates what Trent Alexander-Arnold does wrong as a defender pic.twitter.com/e15UYvQfp9
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 3, 2022
🗣 "That is 𝗔𝗕𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗬 ridiculous!"@GNev2 looks at Trent Alexander-Arnold's creative numbers as a defender pic.twitter.com/XDEgUhHVMm
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 3, 2022
Yet, in a detailed analysis piece, the former Manchester United captain instructed his fellow right-back on how to improve at the "basics" of defending.
This is why we love #MNF 😍
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 3, 2022
A brilliant insight into a defender's mind by @GNev2 with a live demo in studio!🔎 pic.twitter.com/1SnDflfTfj
"No full-back that I've ever seen in this country can do what he can do"😮@GNev2 believes Trent-Alexander Arnold could become 'the best right back the world has ever produced' if he becomes more solid defensively 👇 pic.twitter.com/BDnPoP3OLA
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 3, 2022
Neville was up and out of his seat, giving a live demo to stress the need for the correct body shape while defending, claiming Alexander-Arnold "always jogs out in an upright position".
The former Valencia coach talked about his time spent with a movement coach in Newcastle for two summers and the impact it had on him.
He believes the 23-year-old has the potential to be the best right back ever and said, "No full-back that I've ever seen in this country can do what he can do".
But in order to do that, Neville, capped 85 times by England, feels there are four areas where Alexander-Arnold must get better.
They include: scanning when defending his far post, sprinting back, keeping a low and crouched body position, and checking distances.
He showed clips of where Alexander-Arnold has fallen short of these principles of full-back play to back up his points - including the 3-3 draw with Brighton at Anfield this past weekend.
Alexander-Arnold has 14 goals and 62 assists in 236 games for his boyhood club, with whom he's won every trophy available to him.
Topics: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool, Gary Neville
Josh Lawless