Trent Alexander-Arnold: A Journey of Evolution and Excellence
Since making his debut for Liverpool in 2016, Trent Alexander-Arnold has become a pivotal player for both his club and country. At just 25 years old, he is already preparing for Liverpool's 2024-25 campaign, taking his tally of appearances to 310. Throughout his career, Alexander-Arnold has demonstrated versatility and a keen footballing intelligence that have allowed him to thrive in multiple roles on the pitch.
While he has spent the majority of his career as a right-back, a position where he has developed a reputation for his dynamic attacking play and pinpoint crosses, recent seasons have seen Alexander-Arnold increasingly deployed in midfield. This tactical shift has been particularly evident in his role with the England national team, where he has played in midfield in six of his last seven starts. This evolution is not entirely new; he had previously played in midfield in the Under-16s under Pep Lijnders and had also taken up midfield roles during his time with Liverpool Under-21s.
Tim Jenkins, a former analyst and assistant coach for Liverpool Under-21s, recalls Alexander-Arnold's earlier days. "He was right in the middle of the pitch and involved in everything," Jenkins says. "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. And before the Under-16s, he'd played as a centre-half and a full-back for Michael Beale in the Under-15s age group."
Alexander-Arnold's progression to Liverpool's first team was a natural one, propelled by standout performances at the youth level. "I remember he had a real purple patch after he'd done pre-season with the first team then came back to play with the Under-21s," Jenkins notes. "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."
His ability to adapt and excel in different positions has made him invaluable. Jason McAteer, a former Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, and Republic of Ireland player, acknowledges the demands of modern football on full-backs: "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. Trent has got that many attributes that you've got to get him into the team."
Alexander-Arnold's creative prowess is evident in his assist record. In the 2018-19 season, he registered the third-highest tally of assists in the Premier League with 12. The following season saw him provide 13 assists, second only to Kevin de Bruyne. His consistency continued into the 2021-22 campaign, where his 12 assists were bettered only by Mohamed Salah.
Last season, Alexander-Arnold's statistics were nothing short of remarkable. His average of 5.25 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes in the Premier League and Europa League ranked 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), and in the 98th percentile for progressive passes (8.69).
However, his defensive capabilities have sometimes been called into question. As McAteer puts it, "His qualities are there to be seen, but you can be exposed. Time and space are your best mates in football. If you're not given that by the player alongside you, defending and taking players away, you're not going to flourish. 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."
Despite these challenges, Alexander-Arnold's ability to influence the game from various positions remains undiminished. "If you look at the assists from earlier in his career, they came from wide," Jenkins remarks. "More recently, he's been able to move inside into the half-space and deliver from there. Trent has had the ideal skillset to adapt to how the game has changed."
As Liverpool gears up for another campaign, Alexander-Arnold's role will undoubtedly continue to be a topic of discussion. Klopp’s flexible approach ensures that wherever Alexander-Arnold plays, whether it's on the outside or inside, he remains a crucial asset to the team. "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," Jenkins concludes.
In a sport where versatility and adaptability are increasingly valued, Trent Alexander-Arnold exemplifies how a player can evolve and continue to contribute at the highest levels of the game. His journey from a youth prospect to one of the most creative forces in the Premier League is a testament to his talent, hard work, and ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of modern football.