Trent Alexander-Arnold handled ‘biggest talent’ threat for Liverpool as Jürgen Klopp gets boost.
Liverpool’s 2-1 win against Leicester was a game high on octane and less so on quality.
Liverpool’s two goals, courtesy of two comical Wout Faes moments, sealed the three points for Jürgen Klopp and continued the Reds’ climb up the table. They now sit in sixth place, only two points behind Tottenham in fourth.
The win over The Foxes won’t go down in the annals as one of the finest performances under Klopp, but a win was secured and that’s all that matters in the end.
Yet one of the best displays on the night came from Trent Alexander-Arnold, who produced a better defensive display than he did going forward, which is contrary to the usual narrative.
Facing up against Leicester’s Harvey Barnes all game, Alexander-Arnold handled himself admirably, winning the majority of their battles and not allowing Barnes to get the better of him in any one-vs-one situation.
And Barnes is no minor threat. Before the game, Klopp called him ‘unbelievable’ and ‘one of the biggest talents’ (Metro), not the first time he has heaped praise on the Leicester man. The Liverpool transfer boat may well have departed by now, but he has many of the attributes admired at Anfield.
Alexander-Arnold has been much criticised this season for his defensive prowess, or lack thereof, and while some of it has been warranted, against Leicester he gave a virtually flawless performance at the back.
On one occasion in the first half, he made a vital sliding tackle to put the ball out for a corner, and in the process stopped Barnes from latching on to Ayoze Pérez’s dangerous cross.
Alexander-Arnold was diligent defensively for Liverpool, and while it would be difficult for him to claim a major assist for the equaliser, with his innocuous cross being spun into his own goal by Faes, it was the delivery of the cross that forced the Belgian into the mistake.
It was one of Alexander-Arnold’s best defensive displays of the season, and it was no surprise when Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports handed him the Man of the Match award.
Alexander-Arnold’s display was singled out for praise by Klopp post-game, who said: “Darwin Núñez had a brilliant performance tonight. Thiago [Alcântara] was good. Trent did really well. In an intense period, you have to win the games where you don’t play your best football.”
If the 23-year-old can produce some consistency in his defensive duties, and produce more Leicester-like performances in his own half, then he will go a long way into becoming one of the most complete players in his own position in the world over the next decade, and this would no doubt please Klopp no end.
SOURCE: liverpool.com
