Rio Ferdinand says Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold ‘takes more risks’ than any other player in his position in the world.
The Manchester United legend was reacting to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s mistake during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth over the weekend.
Whilst Ferdinand ‘doesn’t deny’ that the 24-year-old was at fault for Bournemouth opening the scoring at Anfield, he made it clear that he is a ‘high-risk’ player, as he told Vibe with Five.
Jurgen Klopp is now asking his right-back to tuck into the middle of the park and try to dictate the game from there.
Towards the end of last season, he faired very well in that new role to the point that Gareth Southgate used him as an out-and-out number ten for England and he performed very well.
But following his error over the weekend, Ferdinand was quick to defend Alexander-Arnold and what makes him so great.
“When you play the way he does, you are going to lose the ball, it’s a risk,” said Ferdinand.
“Trent takes more risks than any other fullback in the game with the ball, it’s just the way he plays. He is a high-risk player with the ball.
“Everything he does is about going forward. I am not denying that (Trent’s mistake v Bournemouth).”
Midfield is the future for Alexander-Arnold
On the domestic and international stage, that is the long-term answer for the attack-minded fullback.
What’s interesting is that Southgate might end up using him in that attacking midfield role more than Jurgen Klopp
Yes, Southgate can afford to do it a lot more for England given the host of names he can pick to play at right-back, but there are some Liverpool fans calling for the club to invest in a right-sided fullback, so TAA can move into midfield for good.
