Trent Alexander-Arnold: From Right-Back to Midfield Maestro
Since making his debut in 2016, Trent Alexander-Arnold has firmly established himself as a key figure for Liverpool, amassing 310 appearances for the club at just 25 years old. As he prepares for Liverpool's 2024-25 campaign, his career path stands as a testament to his versatility and evolving role on the field.
Initially a right-back, Alexander-Arnold has shown his adaptability by transitioning into midfield for England in six of his last seven starts. This shift highlights his capacity to influence the game from different positions, a quality first noticed by Tim Jenkins, a former analyst and assistant coach for Liverpool Under-21s. Jenkins recalls Alexander-Arnold’s ability to play in multiple roles even during his youth career, stating, "He'd played in midfield in Pep Lijnders' Under-16s, at the base of the diamond. He was right in the middle of the pitch and involved in everything."
In a testament to his development, Alexander-Arnold also spent time as a centre-half and full-back for Michael Beale in the Under-15s before moving to the Under-18s with Neil Critchley. His ability to switch positions effectively is a trait that has continued to serve him well at the professional level. Reflecting on his growth, Jenkins noted, "More recently, he's been able to move inside into the half-space and deliver from there. Trent has had an ideal skillset to adapt to how the game has changed."
Despite this versatility, Alexander-Arnold has remained a vital creative force for Liverpool from his traditional right-back role. During the 2018-19 season, he registered the third-highest tally of assists in the Premier League with 12, following up with 13 assists in the next season, second only to Kevin de Bruyne. His consistency continued in the 2021-22 campaign, where his 12 assists were bettered only by Mohamed Salah.
Last season, Alexander-Arnold's creative prowess was underscored by his average of 5.25 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes in the Premier League and Europa League, ranking him in the 99th percentile among full-backs in Europe's top five divisions. He also excelled in expected assisted goals per 90 minutes (0.37) and passes attempted (87.71), affirming his status as one of the continent's premier playmakers.
The evolution of his playing style hasn't gone unnoticed by former professionals. Jason McAteer, a former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland player, highlighted the changing demands of the full-back role in modern football, saying, "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." He added, "Trent has got that many attributes that you've got to get him into the team. You look at Trent now and he's grown up, he's evolved."
But the transition to midfield has not been without its challenges. McAteer observed, "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." He notes that while Alexander-Arnold’s offensive skills are remarkable, his defensive capabilities remain a work in progress. Still, the belief is strong that with the right support, his talents can be fully realized in this hybrid role.
Despite facing obstacles, Alexander-Arnold remains an integral part of Jurgen Klopp's side. Klopp himself has been flexible with Alexander-Arnold's positioning, as Jenkins revealed: "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."
As Alexander-Arnold prepares for another season, his adaptability will be a valuable asset to Liverpool. He continues to develop a unique skillset that allows him to influence the game from multiple areas of the pitch, making him one of the most intriguing players to watch in world football today. With his contract set to expire in the summer and rumors linking him to Real Madrid, the upcoming season could be pivotal in determining the next chapter of his career.