Trent Alexander-Arnold slated for defensive performance against Arsenal
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been brutally rinsed online after being deemed responsible for both of Liverpool's goals conceded against Arsenal.
Liverpool found themselves 1-0 down inside a minute at the Emirates, with Gabriel Martinelli giving the hosts the perfect start.
Martin Odegaard threaded through a glorious pass in behind for Martinelli to finish past Alisson Becker, but Alexander-Arnold's positioning was very much questionable and he failed to cut out the pass.
ARSENAL AHEAD INSIDE A MINUTE! 🤯⚡
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 9, 2022
Gabriel Martinelli has the Emirates rocking! 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/1LGeCM9T8Z
Liverpool levelled through Darwin Nunez but Arsenal were back in the lead on the stroke of half-time, with Alexander-Arnold again culpable.
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Mikel Arteta's men countered with pace but the England international was extremely naive in going towards the ball instead of marking Gabriel, who dummied the ball and allowed Bukayo Saka to tap in at the far post.
SAKA PUTS ARSENAL BACK IN FRONT 🔴
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 9, 2022
What a counter-attack! ⚡⚡ pic.twitter.com/In35yzcZh2
And social media came down hard on Alexander-Arnold, who is regularly questioned for his defensive abilities:
Martinelli made Trent Alexander-Arnold look like Trent Alexander-Arnold
— Andy Castell (@AJ3) October 9, 2022
Alexander-Arnold at it again
— #TouchlineFracas (@touchlinefracas) October 9, 2022
Ironically The AA is supposed to provide breakdown cover pic.twitter.com/4G9WbTSt9A
Martinelli had Henderson and Trent on skates 💀 pic.twitter.com/Xtiecq2QpK
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 9, 2022
Ladies and gentlemen, Trent Alexander-Arnold https://t.co/eveBChSntb
— Jamie Hall (@jamiehall03) October 9, 2022
Another goal conceded due to Trent not being able to defend. Stop putting this guys name in the same bracket as Reece James
— Conn (@ConnCFC) October 9, 2022
a 4 on 3 situation
— george (@StokeyyG2) October 9, 2022
trent makes a random run
now 3 on 1 at the back post
brilliant decision making pic.twitter.com/Pw3BCNyqmc
4v3 Situation
— 𝙇𝙞𝙖𝙢🇧🇪 (@OfficialVizeh) October 9, 2022
Trent decides to double up on the ball
3v1 back post
Incredible decision making pic.twitter.com/P0FUjEYh0p
How many times do we need to defend like morons before something changes? What the fuck is Trent doing for both goals?
— Dan Wilcox (@LfcDan) October 9, 2022
it’s not too late to go uni trent
— george (@StokeyyG2) October 9, 2022
Trent is 24 he can still go to Uni
— WolfRMFC (@WolfRMFC) October 9, 2022
WHAT IS TRENT DOING????? WHERE WAS HE GOING 🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/uhwIXABmOt
— WolfRMFC (@WolfRMFC) October 9, 2022
Trent is a liability defensively. I’m sorry but it’s week after week he’s making a clanger. #ARSLIV #LFC
— ReviewFootball (@ReviewFootball) October 9, 2022
Alexander-Arnold did suffer a nasty injury in the first half and after being caught out all too often, Jurgen Klopp elected to withdraw the 24-year-old and replace him for Joe Gomez.
His attacking qualities have never been in doubt, as demonstrated with his sublime free-kick against Rangers at Anfield in the Champions League in midweek.
But Alexander-Arnold has been exposed on plenty of occasions this term, leading to Klopp passionately defending him in a press conference and claiming the reason for that is simply the way the team plays.
On Monday Night Football, former England right-back Gary Neville tipped Alexander-Arnold to become the best right-back in history but did also provide a lecture on how he can improve on the basics of defending.
Neville gave a live demo to stress the need for the correct body shape while defending, claiming Alexander-Arnold "always jogs out in an upright position" and needs to get better at scanning and managing distances.
Topics: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool, Arsenal
Josh Lawless