Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has been on the end of some gratuitous praise from a Premier League legend in Cesc Fabregas.
From one pass master to another, Fabregas has come out and compared Alexander-Arnold to the most decorated player of all time.
Fabregas, now enjoying playing for Como in Italy, drew comparisons between Trent and Brazil’s Dani Alves.
Both have shown what right-backs can be in an attacking sense as they both completely revolutionized their positions with their attacking play.
We break down the numbers to see just how good Alexander-Arnold really is.
Cesc Fabregas on Trent:
“I haven’t seen a full back with this range of passing since Dani Alves.” #lfc [twitter] pic.twitter.com/0TNV8MDL4Q
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) August 16, 2022
How Trent has changed over time
Over the last three seasons, which just happen to be his most fruitful seasons as a professional so far, we’ve seen Trent develop further as a player.
Looking at the heatmaps below, a tactical tweak has seen him receive the ball in slightly deeper and inverted positions – much like in the areas that Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne likes to operate within.
This development in his game has resulted in a rise in chances created from open play – from 1.33 in the 19/20 season to 1.45 the following and then 1.72 per 90 last season. It’s only helped him become more effective.
Sky Sports News – Alexander-Arnold (https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12470764/trent-alexander-arnold-is-the-premier-leagues-most-creative-player-due-to-a-positional-shift-at-liverpool-this-season)
This Liverpool team relies a lot on its full-backs to create for the team but the Reds do focus mainly down the right-hand side, given it sees Trent combine with Mohamed Salah and the likes of Jordan Henderson or Harvey Elliot.
In the league last season, 40% of Liverpool’s attacking play came down that side, which demonstrates just how the team has been tailored to maximise the talents of this right-hand side.
Trent has been called a ‘system player’ but there is some truth to that, given that this system is tailor-made to get the best out of him.
Assist king
As said by the Coaches’ Voice: “The most impressive aspect of Alexander-Arnold’s game is his crossing.
“He has brilliant technique, and can vary his crosses depending on his position to pick out a specific teammate with devastating accuracy.”
The pace at which his crosses are delivered causes havoc for opposition defences, and it’s why he continues to produce assists season after season.
With 45 assists in the league, he’s only nine away from becoming the highest assisting defender in PL history – a record which will surely be unreachable by the time he retires.
http://gty.im/1196162385
Last season saw him finish as the league’s top chance creator with 90 which saw him ahead of the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne and Martin Odegaard.
He was also the only defender to feature in the top 10, with Andy Roberson and Lucas Digne featuring in the top 15.
Having already achieved more at 23 than most ever do across their career, Trent will continue to be a key player for his boyhood club – as he aims to cement his place as one of the best-attacking full-backs of all time.
