So a great deal was created of Jordan Henderson taking the major bucks to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq that number of outside Liverpool stopped to think about the seismic implications his departure has for the club in football phrases.
To put it mildly, Liverpool are very skinny in the holding midfield division, with Fabinho pursuing Henderson to the Gulf condition and a next bid of £41million for Southampton’s Romeo Lavia turned down.
‘A verified No6 is not readily available,’ reported Jurgen Klopp. And right after the previous captain’s exit, some also questioned if the Reds have sufficient leaders.
Well, right here is a man who may possibly just provide alternatives to the two challenges. Fulfill Trent Alexander-Arnold… component-time midfield typical, comprehensive-time vice-captain.
Alexander-Arnold says taking part in in midfield is what will get the best out of him as a footballer. A supreme passer of the ball, being in these central regions enables him to handle game titles and begin Liverpool’s attacks.
Trent Alexander-Arnold claims participating in in midfield will get the very best out of him as a footballer
5 midfielders have departed Liverpool this summer season which includes Jordan Henderson (left) and Fabinho (correct) over the summer time, leaving the club really light in the holding midfield department
Jurgen Klopp moved Alexander-Arnold into a hybrid midfield position at the end of final season
In Liverpool’s late-time gain in opposition to Leicester, Alexander-Arnold played in the new midfield purpose. He registered 125 touches of the ball and manufactured 89 passes. For relieve of comparison, in the reverse fixture in opposition to the Foxes in December, he experienced 89 touches and 51 passes.
People stats are a fundamental case review but underline how substantially much more efficient Alexander-Arnold can be. In a few pre-season games, he has started two as a midfielder and the other as a correct back again on the teamsheet only, as he frequently strolled into a central area to get on the ball along with Curtis Jones.
‘It’s distinct to see I delight in actively playing there,’ stated Alexander-Arnold yesterday, talking in the course of Liverpool’s pre-time tour in humid Singapore which concludes with a match in opposition to Bayern Munich on Wednesday. ‘Since the changeover, it’s brought the greatest out of me.
‘There’s a lot of function that is long gone into it and a large amount more desires to take place to iron out the creases. But we’re excited as a staff to get started in this procedure, building it operate with new gamers and adapting to it.
‘This position is some thing that will deliver the ideal out of me, no matter whether it is setting up in there or transitioning into all those areas when in possession. For me it is just having in those people locations to regulate the activity, impact the recreation and support the team get. I’ve by no means been shy of what my ambitions are… to captain this club. This is a stepping stone to that.
‘I’ve always admired top quality passers of the ball. I grew up viewing Stevie Gerrard, Xabi Alonso — I’m a pupil of the match and appreciate viewing soccer. It allows me to master and adapt.’
Alexander-Arnold is not the only Liverpool participant needing to adapt this summer. Five midfielders have departed the club — Henderson, Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita.
Lavia has extensive been earmarked as one player to bolster the midfield but Southampton’s bargaining position has been strengthened by the unplanned exits of Henderson and Fabinho.
Lavia qualified with Russell Martin’s squad and the Championship club are demanding £50m. Liverpool are hesitant to pay out more than the odds for a 19-calendar year-aged with constrained top-flight encounter but could be compelled to compromise on their principles.
The 24-12 months-outdated is not the only Liverpool player needing to adapt in a summertime of change
Liverpool would like to bring in Romeo Lavia but Southampton are keeping out for £50m
They have designed make contact with with Brazilian club Fluminense about Andre, as an alternate to Lavia, but it appears to be the Reds could have to fork out far more than they want to do, or threat beginning the time unbelievably less than toughness in midfield, with Chelsea also circling for Lavia.
Midfielders Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic are performing on pre-time programmes again in Kirkby. Arthur Melo played only 13 minutes on personal loan from Juventus last period and has returned to Italy, while Fabio Carvalho has joined RB Leipzig on mortgage.
Jones played in the No6 job from Leicester in Singapore at the weekend and Klopp mentioned: ‘In this set-up and how the squad looks, Curtis is certainly just one of the alternatives. It is no top secret that we’re nonetheless hunting for new players to be a part of us. Curtis can absolutely engage in that (No6) place. Can he perform it when no-a single else in the staff is defending? No likelihood.’
Alexander-Arnold, hence, is maybe the most reasonable applicant to perform there at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend, which has a knock-on influence on the suitable back again place. Joe Gomez is the evident prospect to fill the void.
Conor Bradley, the 20-yr-aged who scored five ambitions and manufactured 5 helps on mortgage at Bolton in League A person previous calendar year, looked good at suitable again with Alexander-Arnold in midfield on Liverpool’s tour of Germany — but the Northern Irishman has skipped the Singapore journey via damage.
It is comprehended Liverpool are not setting up to obtain a suitable back again but Alexander-Arnold’s positional swap leaves them light in defensive spots.
The new-seem midfield could propel them toward being a much more completed attacking outfit. Dominik Szoboszlai, the Hungarian signed from RB Leipzig, appears a ferocious talent, even though fellow summer time recruit Alexis Mac Allister is a swish midfielder who can dictate matches.
All of this signifies the new period feels like the start off of a new era at Anfield, with Virgil van Dijk sporting the armband and Alexander-Arnold now just one of the correct leaders on the pitch and in the dressing space.