Trent Alexander-Arnold has matured from a teenage wonderkid on Merseyside to the ultimate craftsman at his boyhood club. The Scouse defender is well-known for his intricate passing range and ability to strike the ball with excellent precision, which is why Jürgen Klopp has given him more responsibility.
Despite his withdrawn role as part of a back four, Alexander-Arnold has been continually urged to act like Liverpool’s talisman, as a true playmaker for the Reds. He is one of just three defenders in Premier League history, along with colleague Andy Robertson and ex-Everton star Leighton Baines, to have more than 50 assists in the tournament.
Indeed, over 30% of his assists in England’s top flight have come from dead-ball situations, with Alexander-Arnold displaying a talent for blasting whipped deliveries into the penalty box. He is in charge of the majority of set pieces granted to Liverpool, and the Reds benefit from his perfect skill.
The Englishman has also discovered the internet on several occasions as a result of these scenarios. He isn’t particularly prone to scoring goals, owing mostly to his deeper placement, although he has scored 12 Premier League goals in his career, with seven of those coming from set pieces.
Alexander-Arnold has five Premier League goals from direct free kicks, with Liverpool benefiting from set pieces more than the average English team. Last season, for example, Klopp’s men scored more goals from set pieces than any other club, and this trend is expected to continue in 2018/19 and 2019/20.
With football being a low-scoring sport in compared to basketball or baseball, for example, Liverpool has used set pieces as an unconventional weapon to win games, with Alexander-Arnold leading the way, followed by Robertson, who also has a good share of control. This season, however, the Reds could be in for a surprise.
Liverpool signed a player named Dominik Szoboszlai earlier this summer. The Hungarian captain joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig and has been adjusting to life in England, with the 22-year-old midfielder set to make his Premier League debut this weekend.
Szoboszlai agreed to terms with Liverpool for $76 million (£60 million/€70 million) after a release clause in his contract was activated. He does not play in the same position as Alexander-Arnold on the field, but he is known for being incredibly technical and almost cultivated while striking the ball.
René Mari, who worked with him when he was a promising adolescent at Red Bull Salzburg, outlined his abilities in a recent interview with Sky Sports.
“We would have a morning session or an off-day and I would be working in the office and you look out and he is there on the pitch just taking these amazing free-kicks,” claimed the Austrian coach, who is now assisting Marco Rose at Borussia Dortmund. “From set pieces, he will create danger.” He boasts one of the world’s top ball-striking talents.”
Indeed, Szoboszlai scored two direct free-kicks and one penalty in the Bundesliga over the last two seasons. To date, he has taken 16 penalties for FC Liefering, Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig, and his national team, converting 15 of them into goals and missing only one. Six of his 15 assists in the German top tier came from set-plays.
During preseason, Klopp has given Szoboszlai responsibility of a few set pieces, with Alexander-Arnold and Robertson sharing the duty. There appears to be a new kid on the block, and he looks prepared to take Liverpool’s quiet weapon to the next level this season, threatening Alexander-Arnold’s status as the primary taker.
