In some ways, it was a season that completely encapsulated Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s profession to date, however may a brand new supervisor lastly see his position change for good?
Liverpool’s new vice-captain took one other step in the direction of an virtually inevitable inheritance of the armband on the membership in 2023/24, as long as he resists any potential temptation from Actual Madrid.
The correct-back – sure, we’re nonetheless calling him that – already carried an immense burden previous to his promotion throughout the management group, appearing as an academy poster boy, native hero and inheritor to Steven Gerrard‘s throne all through his youthful years.
Now, the previous skipper would kill for Alexander-Arnold’s medal assortment on the age of simply 25, however the largest chapter in his Anfield story may but be penned and probably the most vital questions might quickly be answered by the brand new boss.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, 2023/24
Began: 29 (All competitions)On in its place: 8Unused sub: 1Goals: 3Assists: 9Overall Season Score: 7
A rocky highway
As was a standard theme all through a lot of the squad, Alexander-Arnold’s marketing campaign was a considerably extra bumpier experience than he would have hoped, attributable to health issues.
A hamstring harm stopped him in his tracks again in September following what had been one other promising begin, however he quickly regained his standing as one of the vital very important cogs within the Jurgen Klopp machine in his inverted full-back position.
Subsequent knee ligament issues started shortly after the flip of the 12 months earlier than reoccurring the next month, and conserving him out of a big chunk of the run-in.
Throughout that point, a sure Conor Bradley made it his mission to emphatically announce himself on the senior stage.
His showings at right-back prompted conversations a few future transfer into midfield for Trent, later compounded by the information that we might be getting a brand new handle in the summertime – however extra on that later.
Whereas it’s true that we’ll seemingly by no means absolutely know the place Klopp needed Alexander-Arnold to be at every given second on the pitch, it’s honest to say there have been occasional defensive lapses throughout the first half of the marketing campaign.
These added gasoline to the fireplace so far as these conversations round shifting to midfield had been involved.
Incomparable affect
The place there have been shortcomings and sporadic bouts of criticism, there have been durations of utter brilliance in equal measure.
The 25-year-old continued to show that solely Kevin De Bruyne can realistically be thought of to be on the identical planet so far as creativity goes within the Premier League.
Whereas he didn’t fairly hit the stratospheric help numbers he has reached in earlier years, he merely mesmerised us together with his imaginative and prescient and passing at varied factors all through the season.
Alongside that, he reminded us of his capabilities as a match winner and goalscorer by stepping up within the very important moments wherein you want to have the ability to rely in your best.
He single-handedly rescued three factors throughout the area of eight days with breathtaking late strikes in opposition to Man Metropolis and Fulham, with out which our title bid would seemingly have by no means actually caught hearth post-Christmas.
There have been a number of equally-sublime cases wherein he arrange his teammates, a mix of pleasant clipped balls, trademark set-pieces and world class long-range switches.
Might it lastly be time for the midfield transfer?
Earlier than Arne Slot had even set foot on Merseyside, many followers had already drawn their very own conclusions about what nonetheless lies in retailer for the Reds’ No. 66 so far as his place on the pitch is worried.
Many imagine he has all the time been destined to finally step into midfield and comply with within the footsteps of his former idol, others really feel the arrival of a brand new supervisor could be the catalyst for that.
The Dutchman seems to favour a 4-2-3-1 formation and having the ability to share the defensive burden with somebody like Alexis Mac Allister as a part of a two may effectively be the proper tonic to unleash extra of his potential.
The flip aspect of that coin is that he has proven us on numerous events previously that he’s greater than able to being the primary character at right-back, his 79 profession assists replicate that.
Whichever manner you land on it, it’s clear that the vice-skipper can be an important a part of our hopes of success on this new period of the soccer membership.
Because of this securing his long-term future is crucial, guaranteeing that his contract scenario will not be one thing we permit to unfold into a much bigger story than it must be.
On his day he stays among the finest and most original footballers on the planet. You may assure Slot is relishing the prospect of working with him no matter what he has acquired deliberate with him tactically.
Get that contract in entrance of him, please, Reds.
Finest second: The good late winner in entrance of the Kop at house to Fulham.
Worst second: A tricky return from harm up in opposition to Gabriel Martinelli in an in the end expensive defeat on the Emirates again in February.
Function subsequent season: Whether or not it’s at right-back, in midfield or within the hybrid position, one factor you might be positive of is that he’ll proceed to be one of the vital necessary males on the pitch.
