The former Reds midfielder believes an academy graduate scratching around for form at Anfield remains England’s top choice in his chosen position
Trent Alexander-Arnold is facing the kind of criticism that has been aimed at Mohamed Salah in the past, says Jason McAteer, with the former Liverpool claiming that while the 22-year-old’s brain “looks fried” he remains “England’s best right-back”.
Having been a regular for club and country since bursting onto the scene in his teens, the demands of top-level competition have started to catch up with an Anfield academy graduate of late.
So high have the standards been that he has set in his career to date that any dip is going to be dissected in minute detail.
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Questions are being asked of Alexander-Arnold’s contribution to the Liverpool cause for the first time, with it suggested that he may need a break in order to recharge his batteries and come again.
McAteer concedes that the highly-rated defender looks a little lost at present, but he is not about to start doubting the overall ability of a man who has starred for a dominant Reds side over recent years.
“Despite Trent Alexander-Arnold struggling a bit this season, he’s still England’s best right-back,” ex-Liverpool midfielder McAteer told FreeSuperTips.
“However, there isn’t such a thing anymore as the ‘perfect right-back’ nowadays. Years ago, your right-back was a defensive player who was there to protect the back four, he was there to help the winger and every so often he’d get forward. However, the modern right-back is practically a winger.
“Trent’s best qualities are when he goes forward. His crossing and fitness are sublime, but defensively that there are question marks over him.
“As a manager, you need to decide if you want this defensive player in your side or someone who is more attacking, which is what Klopp wants and that’s why Trent is a perfect fit. For Gareth Southgate, it depends on what he wants for each game and who fits the position best against each opposition.
“There have been games this season where he has lacked quality, which is surprising given how high he has set his own bar for performances. But when you’re in the media spotlight playing for Liverpool and you don’t reach the level of performance that you did previously, you are going to get scrutinised.
“It’s similar with Mohamed Salah in his first season where he scored so many goals, when he didn’t match that the next season, people said he was finished, when in hindsight, his stats are simply phenomenal.
“What Liverpool have done under Klopp in the last few seasons is brilliant, and there was bound to be a drop off point somewhere.
“When a player is slightly older and more into their career, you can handle it better, but with Trent, he’s young, he’s played football at the highest level and playing every week. It’s a lot of mental pressure for a young player to deal with. He looks worn out mentally and physically, and his brain looks fried.
“Despite this, you still have to play him in the game against Manchester United. It’s the biggest game of the season in the Premier League so players don’t feel tired in the build up to it. If Klopp wants to rest him for a few games, you do it after the United game.”
Defending Premier League champions Liverpool are due to play host to old adversaries United on Sunday, with that contest at Anfield set to be taken in with the resurgent Red Devils having moved to the top of the table.
