Steve Nicol was critical of one Liverpool player who left a teammate doing ‘two jobs’ during the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
The 62-year-old rounded on Trent Alexander-Arnold during a post-match discussion on ESPN FC, describing the Reds’ vice-captain as a defensive ‘liability’ and accusing him of forcing Ibrahima Konate to double-job against the Gunners.
The ex-Anfield defender said: “Alexander-Arnold, as great as he is on the ball going forward, he’s a liability defensively. He can’t defend one on one and he doesn’t get in good positions to stop [Gabriel] Martinelli today getting the ball.
“Konate ends up having to do two jobs. He’s got to play centre-back and he’s got to cover the right-back position constantly.”
The ‘Trent can’t defend’ narrative must be one of the most cliched and tiresome in all of football, but unfortunately the 25-year-old didn’t have his best day in that regard against Arsenal.
Martinelli had the better of him on Sunday in a manner that few (if any) opposition attackers have managed this season, while the Liverpool vice-captain was dribbled past twice and committed one error leading to a shot for the Gunners (Sofascore).
It wasn’t his finest day at the office by any means, and the same could be said for all of his teammates yesterday, but we’re confident the Reds’ number 66 can show us his truer self against Burnley next weekend.
You can view Nicol’s comments below (from 3:54), via ESPN FC on YouTube:
Nichols right, hopefully Bradley can embarrassing him going forward
Totally agree. Bradley a better fit!
Let’s hope that the whole team (except McAllister), pitches up next time out.
It was why he was hooked off, last time he played against Martinelli it was the same TAA was run ragged. Cannot complain when he plays further forward but Bradley leaves him standing as a defender. Most of the problems were that side of the pitch.
The obstinate refusal of some people to see the bleeding obvious is almost laughable.
Trent’s ‘too cool for school’ football is a huge liability at times. There were one or two excellent passes but very little else. He needs to wake up if Liverpool are to achieve the success we all want this season or sit on the bench and watch a 20 year old.
Trent is sometimes overhyped.He may read his own headlines and start to believe all he has to do is turn up. He’s an average defender and an occasionally good midfielder. Klopp’s best parting gift to Liverpool would be to install Bradley as first choice right back.
The wayethe with which LFC played against arsenal is concerning.LFC didn’t start the match with tempo they could employ.That resulted to them outpressed.I hoped that after halftime there would be a great amelioration but in vain. It is time that Arnold be deployed in midfield permanently. In the absence of Bradley Gomez can do the trick.Communication between the goal keeper nerds to improve.
LFC have shot themselves in the foot by slow start. That is a lost opportunity now.However there is still time to make amends though we will be undet tremendous pressure henceforth .Our destiny is in our hands.
Allison Becker made an error that caused the second goal.communication needs to be improved.
Totally agree with stevie, Arnold is a liability, always has been, shocking defender. Bradley played gaelic football, first thing you learn is to mark your man, he doesn’t give players space to turn. We’ll done stevie nicol for pointing out the obvious. Arnold gives more balls away, but because he hits the odd pass and he’s English he world class, joke.
I’m sorry but he’s 100% Correct on this and I actually pointed it out during the game, that Konate having to clean up for Trent’s lapses was going to either cost us directly (via a defensive breakdown in the middle with Virgil having to double cover as a result), or like it eventually did with Konate having to commit and unnecessary foul early on and carry a yellow card that eventually saw him sent off when he got the second one. And even if Klopp saw the same thing (it seems) and removed Trent early to try to minimise the risk, it was already too late by then since Konate was already on a yellow. Going forward I think Klopp is have to confront this issue head on because we have a ready-made superior right-back in Conor Bradley who,….YES, at the moment is the better defender of the two, and who it seems doesn’t cost us going forward since he’s also pretty good in that department – and basically face the reality that everyone else has pointed out that Trent has to move to midfield going forward. Both for the team’s sake and for his own career.
Trent has been a liability in defence for quite some time now but still being preferred by Klopp.
City has the edge now albeit with a game in hand.
Steve’s comments on his assessment of TAA is on the button…..although I may add Trents liability was noticeable in previous games as well.
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This is one of the reasons why I don’t rate Klopp as a intelligent manager. TAA should have deployed as a midfielder permanently and not as right back. His defending is atrocious not suited at all as a right back.
In this game Gomes should have been deployed at right back .
I hate selective criticism..but I had same sentiments with the legend..actually that’s what I said to my ‘rebel’ son, who happens to support Arsenal, when watching the game that it was like TAA was avoiding contest with Martinelli.🤔