JAMIE CARRAGHER identified that Trent Alexander-Arnold was being used as a midfielder when Liverpool were in possession during their clash with Arsenal on Sunday.
The Reds star, 24, lined up for the game in his usual right-back position as Jurgen Klopp‘s men prepared to host the Premier League leaders.
Sky SportsTrent Alexander-Arnold was pushing into midfield when Liverpool had the ball[/caption]
Alexander-Arnold was being used as a midfielderGetty
But it was evident in the opening minutes of the match that he was moving into midfield when they regained the ball.
And commentator Carragher pointed out the little tactical tweak in the opening stages of the coverage.
But Liverpool fans were not happy with the decision to move Alexander-Arnold into midfield – before he was caught out at right-back for Arsenal‘s second goal.
One said: “Trent in CM?! Klopp has lost the plot or he’s sending the owners a message!
“The guy has no positional sense, so let’s play him somewhere in the middle so he don’t get lost .”
Another added: Why would you put Trent Alexander-Arnold in central midfield vs the league leaders when you’ve never done it.”
And a third responded: “What formation are we playing??? Trent being made to play RB & CM…”
But Alexander-Arnold’s foray into midfield has not come out of nowhere.
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Many people have called for him to be pushed further forward because of his attacking attributes.
However, when asked in 2021 about a possible positional switch for Alexander-Arnold, Klopp said: “Why would you make the best right-back in the world a midfielder? I don’t understand that really.
“As if the right-back position is not as important as the others. People who say that, I struggle to understand how you could think that.”
Alexander-Arnold’s tactical change mirrored that of John Stones for Manchester City in recent weeks.
A centre-back by trade and a right-back for Pep Guardiola‘s side, Stones has been marauding into the centre to become an extra midfield option when Man City have possession.
It is a transition Guardiola insists fellow right-back Kyle Walker is unable to perform.
Ahead of Man City’s win over Southampton, the Spaniard said: “He cannot do it. Kyle will always have pace – he will be the fastest in this room at 60.
“But to play inside you have to make some educated movements and he doesn’t have all the characteristics.
“I’m not going to ask someone who has done what he has done to change.
“He has played as a full-back coming inside with four in the back and has done it really well.
“But with this shape of three in the back and two in the middle he cannot do it.
“He will maybe need time to do it and we don’t have time.”