Liverpool icon Trent Alexander-Arnold is a "better passer" and a "better crosser" than Manchester United legend David Beckham was in his prime, according to Joe Cole.
The former Chelsea playmaker regards Beckham as the "best of my generation" but admits Alexander-Arnold has left him speechless with his distribution ability. The 23-year-old is viewed by many as the best right-back around and leads the Premier League assist chart with 11 this season.
He returned from a thigh injury in time for Tuesday night's Champions League quarter-final clash at Benfica and picked up where he left off with a majestic display. Alexander-Arnold created Liverpool's second goal in their 3-1 first-leg victory with a pinpoint diagonal pass for Luis Diaz to knock down into Sadio Mane's path.
The stunning showing in Portugal left Cole in no doubt the Merseyside native has even greater quality than his former England teammate Beckham, who was famously wicked over dead balls and when delivering from the flanks. "Look, it doesn't need words. It's Beckham-like but I think he's actually a better passer than Beckham, a better crosser than Beckham," Cole told BT Sport of Alexander-Arnold.
"That's saying something because Becks was the best of my generation. The problem England have got is we've also got [Chelsea right-back] Reece James. You cannot leave either of them out, they've both got outstanding attributes. Tactically, can [England manager] Gareth Southgate find a way of getting them both in the team?"
Rio Ferdinand echoed Cole's comments and jokingly declared Alexander-Arnold is "out of order" with his passing ability. "Trent is as good a passer as anyone on the planet right now, I don't care," he added on Wednesday.
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"When I saw one of his passes yesterday, I was screaming. And it's not usually passes that do that to me. It's out of order the way he passes the ball. It's not only the execution, it's the vision." Alexander-Arnold has registered a remarkable 17 assists in all competitions this season, marking a career-best tally for the Liverpool academy graduate.
His creative output has been vital to the Reds' pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple and Jurgen Klopp will need him at his best against Manchester City on Sunday. The Anfield club also take on the league leaders in the FA Cup semi-finals the following weekend.
The second leg against Benfica separates the two clashes with City and Liverpool will be confident of reaching the Champions League semis. As well as their 3-1 aggregate lead, they will have home advantage next Wednesday as they vie to set up an encounter against Bayern Munich or Villarreal.
