Trent Alexander-Arnold endured a difficult afternoon as Liverpool were held to a 3-3 draw at home to Brighton in Saturday’s Premier League action.
Alexander-Arnold, 23, had been in the spotlight ahead of the game due to his continued exclusion from the England national team – with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp having to address his thoughts on the situation and defend the player ahead of the weekend clash.
All three of Brighton ’s goals in the pulsating clash came from left-sided forward Leandro Trossard, who was attacking the area vacated by Alexander-Arnold – with the right-back, as is always the case, urged to quickly join the Reds attacks, which inevitably leave the defence slightly short.
Trossard’s opening goal was a fine finish after he skipped past Alexander-Arnold to leave him trailing before the Reds defender slipped, while another came as the Belgian forward entered the empty space left by the full-back. It was a difficult afternoon for the Reds star, whose defensive vulnerabilities have been questioned in recent weeks.
Alexander-Arnold was also booked for a foul during the game, which was end-to-end throughout, but his attacking capabilities were once more on display – with a typically pinpoint free-kick forcing Seagulls goalkeeper Robert Sanchez into a fine stop, while it was his corner which led to Liverpool's third goal.
There is little doubt over the Reds star’s technical quality and the integral part he is played in Liverpool ’s successes in recent seasons, yet it appears that opposition teams are increasingly targeting the right flank of Klopp’s side’s defence as an opportunity for attacking.
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Ahead of the match against Brighton, Klopp had told reporters: “When we do a high press Trent is often the highest of all those at the back. That is the way we play football. Now, you can say: ‘You should defend better,’ but you cannot have everything because if you want to play high press you need players in specific positions.
“If the next ball goes long on that [right] side then Joël [Matip], Ibou [Konaté] or Joe [Gomez] has to cover him. It is the risk we take. It is not a crazy risk and we win the ball nine out of 10 times, but in the one moment we don’t win it people ask: ‘Where is Trent?’ That is a question I don’t understand from people who watch football so often. People say that is his main job but I told him he has to be there [higher up the pitch].
“Yes, there are other situations where he was not aware or there was a challenge he should have won. Every player has these challenges. But with him? Every time it is picked up and analysed, all the experts saying this is a weakness. Honestly, I just don’t get it. A world-class talent gets judged by the one thing he is not as world class at as the other things? If he was not a good defender, he would not play.”
