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There isn’t any query that Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s imminent return to motion represents a serious increase to Liverpool’s hopes of additional glory this season.
However it is usually honest to say that occasions in his absence have solely served to reignite the controversy over which place Jurgen Klopp could be finest served to deploy him in.
Previous to Alexander-Arnold’s latest knee harm, it appeared the query over his position had been emphatically answered by each his type and that of the staff as an entire.
For starters, Liverpool virtually salvaged a forgettable 2022/23 marketing campaign by releasing up the 25-year-old in April final yr, successful seven and drawing three of their last 10 fixtures.
And that enchancment sustained into this season, as proven by the truth that the Reds not too long ago performed their thirty eighth sport since their change of system having picked up extra factors than every other staff in that interval barring Man City (each 88).
Why, then, would anybody counsel ripping up the tactical blueprint that has introduced such good outcomes?
Properly, it’s price noting that, throughout the 14 video games Alexander-Arnold has missed by his knee drawback and its recurrence, Liverpool have posted 11 wins, two attracts, and only one defeat.
It’s a return that implies their resurgence this time period is a results of a number of components, slightly than a easy tweak of place for certainly one of their key males.
What’s extra, the type of his alternative, Conor Bradley, has been eye-catching sufficient to make the case that Klopp doesn’t essentially should be wed to asking his right-back to play in a sure approach.
Clearly, it will be insanity to say that the 20-year-old is a greater participant than a person who has received each honour obtainable throughout his time as Liverpool’s right-back.
However, even accounting for a small pattern dimension and the final tendency to overstate Alexander-Arnold’s weak point on this entrance, Bradley has proven indicators of being superior in particular defensive components of the sport.
Within the Premier League this season, the Northern Irishman has received a better share of tackles (84.2% to 67.9%), duels (57.9% to 45.9%), and has been dribbled previous much less regularly per 90 minutes (1.81 to 2.6).
In fact, all this may be caveated with the truth that he’s not within the class of his fellow right-back in possession, with Alexander-Arnold fairly merely among the finest passers of the ball in world soccer.
But that will get to the crux of the dialogue over what Klopp desires from his right-back and whether or not the trade-offs required are fully price it.
Relating to Alexander-Arnold beginning there, it will be an utter waste to not ask him to stroll into midfield at each alternative so as to make full use of his great passing vary.
However that comes with drawbacks, particularly a gaping gap in his nominal place that may be exploited in turnover, leading to an over-reliance on Ibrahima Konate‘s capability to cowl giant areas.
Against this, every time Joe Gomez or Bradley have been deployed at right-back, this inversion has been far much less pronounced, with each males merely requested to choose their moments to make an additional man within the center.
And, on the floor at the very least, this has made Liverpool really feel way more defensively safe than once they have persistently requested a member of their again 4 to vacate his place.
Admittedly, it’s arduous to think about Klopp ditching this setup – or, certainly, the phrases of a wager with Pep Lijnders that began this experiment – forward of a run-in during which two extra trophies are at stake.
However with a brand new supervisor coming on this summer season and Liverpool having not too long ago proven they’ll win differently, it may nicely be that Alexander-Arnold is getting ready for his final outings within the place he has known as house for thus lengthy.
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