Liverpool fans have commented on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s play following Real Madrid’s 1-0 win against Juventus in the Club World Cup Round of 16. The 26-year-old made his long-awaited move to the Bernabeu this summer, much to the dismay of many Reds fans, after assisting Liverpool in winning their record-equalling 20th English league title.
Initially, it appeared that the world’s best right-back would quit his boyhood club on a free transfer, sneaking out the back door after nearly 20 years at Anfield. But Los Blancos, desperate to advance in this summer’s Club World Cup, paid £10 million to sign him before his contract expired, allowing him to join Xabi Alonso’s side immediately.
So far, his path has been anything but smooth. Critics pointed to weak defending on his debut, when Al-Hilal held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw, but he’s gradually began to prove his worth subsequently, with his team winning their next three games in a row. Doubts remain, however this could be due as much to Liverpool fans privately praying for his demise as it is to any inconsistencies he is still attempting to overcome.
Liverpool Fans Assess Trent’s Performance Against Juventus
A superb assist “masked a defensive disasterclass”
The biggest concern about Trent’s move to sunny Spain this summer was that, while he can produce moments of brilliance with his attacking and playmaking abilities, he also has moments of madness when asked to perform the traditional defensive duties of a full-back, which could expose him to harsh scrutiny from the notoriously impatient Spanish press.
That fear, as well as the stark contrast between his game’s highs and lows, appeared to be on full display on Tuesday night. On the plus side, his effect in possession was notable, as he provided a spectacular assist for Gonzalo Garcia (see Real Madrid’s solitary goal below), completed 90% of his possessions, registered two vital passes, and generated one large chance.
On the flip hand, many Liverpool fans were ready to point out his defensive flaws once more. Trent lost possession 15 times, was dribbled past twice (which equaled the amount of tackles he made), lost three of his five ground duels, and made no interceptions or clearances in his whole 90-minute effort. As one X user pointed out (see some of Trent’s defensive blunders below):
“Trent conceals a disasterclass display with an assist. So delighted we don’t have to deal with the public relations spin anymore…”
A second Liverpool fan remarked on X, “I’m so, so glad we no longer have to pretend that Trent is good at defending,” while a third added, “Trent has world-class ability, but he really doesn’t have the physical profile to play right back anymore, does he?” I’m secretly relieved we’ve moved on.
In the meantime, a fourth user came to the conclusion: “This is the sort of stuff us Liverpool fans had to witness all the time by the way, and we defended it, so you can’t say we haven’t seen enough to know what he’s like.”
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