Page 30 - Soccer360 Issue 105

ALEXANDER- ARNOLD SPOTLIGHT
G
ABOVE:
Trent Alexander- Arnold celebrates after scoring for Liverpool
TRAILBLAZIN TRENT
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD CONTINUES TO THRILL AS HE TRANSITIONS FROM AN OUTSTANDING RIGHT- BACK TO A NEW MIDFIELD ROLE FOR LIVERPOOL AND THE ENGLAND NATIONAL TEAM. STEPHEN
ODONOVAN ANALYSES HOW HE HAS DEVELOPED INTO ONE OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE’S BEST PLAYMAKERS.
“THIS SEASON ALEXANDER-ARNOLD HAS UNLEASHED HIS FULL REPERTOIRE”
f the many tactical Europe’s top leagues contain several innovations we have seen examples of players who possess all of
in recent times, none have the above. Inter duo Denzel Dumfries and had the same sort of impact Federico Dimarco are unrivalled in Serie
or revolutionised the way A with the electrifying role they have in football is played to quite their team’s forward play, while Kyle Walker the same extent as the rise has been a star of the Premier League for of the modern-day full-back. over a decade, with his attacking bursts Long gone are the days so well complemented by his one-of-a-
of full-backs being judged kind defensive recovery runs. For all of
first and foremost on their their brilliance, however, it is an altogether defensive capabilities - it’s different phenomenon for a full-back to now virtually impossible emerge as one of the world’s outstanding
to make it at the top level without a playmakers. But that is exactly what combination of blistering pace, quality Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has link-up play, and the ability to create become. The rise of Alexander-Arnold from goalscoring chances on a regular basis. the local boy who was given his debut for
the club just weeks after his 18th birthday
to one of the most unique talents of his generation has been mesmerising to watch. With his incredible passing range and a ball- striking ability that continues to astound, he has ripped up full-back manuals both old and new on his way to pushing the limits of his position to heights rarely seen before. Born just a short distance away from Anfield, it all began for Alexander-Arnold when he joined the Liverpool academy at the age
of six. As he rose through the ranks, he mainly operated as a winger before being converted into a right-back, and ever since his ascension into the first team the debate over whether he should play further forward has only intensified.
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