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Trent the midfielder?

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Modo

Modo

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I've always said that his future is in midfield, your thoughts?
We can probably find a fullback that is better at defending but we're going to have a hard time finding a defender who can cross the ball like he can.

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold open to Steven Gerrard role switch

Caoimhe O'Neill
  • 08:11, 10 OCT 2019
Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has admitted he would be open to making the switch from full-back to midfielder in the future.

A role in the middle of the park has long been associated with the 21-year-old since he broke into the Reds' first-team in the 2017/18 season.

And having modelled his game on Steven Gerrard, the England international has insisted he would be open to a move.

This comes after Jamie Carragher claimed Alexander-Arnold could become Liverpool's own Kevin De Bruyne.

In response to this the right-back told the press: "Obviously I’m a defender first and foremost, then I want to try and help the team create chances.

"For now the manager has decided I’m a right back. That’s where I’ll play. I’m really not fussed where I play. I just want to play football.

"If a manager decides to use me in midfield, or as a centre-back or a striker then that’s where I’ll play."

After his 16 assists haul last term, the Academy graduate has already scored once and set up three goals this season.

The Champions League winner added: "[I modelled myself on] Gerrard, really. Everything about his game I always admired. I always studied him and wanted to be like him."

"It’s maybe not that important to compare because at a young age, you haven’t achieved the things those types of players have. It’s difficult to say whether you will or won’t. Who knows?

"For now, it’s about having an open mind and wanting to achieve those types of levels, wanting to be those types of players, wanting to reach the levels they’ve reached.
 
I can see this happening in the distant future but not in the near future. Klopp has already addressed this and he's not moving him any time soon.

Basically he suits the style of play Klopp currently employs and there wouldn't be any benefit to moving him to say take over the Hendo role and then having to find another overlapping FB.
 
He has far too many careless passes for him to be relied upon in midfield. Keep him it right back where he’ll often get away with it, and where he can put in some spectacular crosses.
 
This comparison to Gerrard, in terms of starting as right back and switching to midfield, is so lazy. I don't think Gerrard played more than half a dozen games at right back (probably not even that) and, even then, he wasn't used exclusively as a right back. He was breaking into the team and would sometimes get an opportunity at right back, but also sometimes in midfield.

That aside, in our current system, Trent offers so much more at right back than he would in midfield. So, unless our system changes dramatically AND we sign or develop another excellent right back, then it won't happen.

Could he play in midfield? Yes. Will he play in midfield? Unlikely I think
 
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No kid wants to be Gary Neville.

But I'm sure plenty of kids want to be Trent Alexander Arnold
 
I hope this doesn't become a burning issue.

He's contributing a lot at RB and it feels like trying to move him to midfield would create more problems than it solves (at least in the short-term).

Dani Alves was arguably far too good and influential to be a RB but look at the career he had.

For now, TAA should be looking to Alves rather than Gerrard.
 
He's doing just fine where he is & he seems happy enough playing there.

Usually players adapt to a new role on the pitch much later on in their career so would
seem a little senseless.
 
Similar things would sometimes be said about Magic at various points in his career, not just when he played for us. It was tried at times too, but never for long, because without the space in front of Magic that he used to have playing at fullback his attacking play was blunted and a lot less productive.

Trent is a better player IMO (though I was a bigger fan of Magic than some other forumites were) but I could see the same kind of thing happening with him. Besides, he's doing too well at RB for me to want to tinker with that. If it ain't broke (and it certainly ain't in Trent's case) don't "fix" it FFS.
 
Ijg said:
Side note but imagine prime Gerrard in our midfield currently.
Click to expand...

Some bellend will probably say that he'd struggle to get into the team ahead of our current midfield and would have to settle for being back-up to Salah at Attacking Right Midfield
 
manwithnoname said:
Some bellend will probably say that he'd struggle to get into the team ahead of our current midfield and would have to settle for being back-up to Salah at Attacking Right Midfield
Click to expand...

Some bellend only on this website, you’re right.
 
doctor_mac said:
He doesn't have Gerrard's pace or strength, and whilst he has a wand of a right boot, he isn't a terrific dribbler. I just don't see it, and I don't see why we'd want to switch him given the importance of FBs in Klopp's system.
Click to expand...

Have to be honest this is true but isn't Trent still only 20 years old? He could definitely develop those skills if he was placed in midfield.
 
doctor_mac said:
He doesn't have Gerrard's pace or strength, and whilst he has a wand of a right boot, he isn't a terrific dribbler. I just don't see it, and I don't see why we'd want to switch him given the importance of FBs in Klopp's system.
Click to expand...

Being a terrific dribbler isn’t a prerequisite for a great CM though. Being a terrific passer is, and that’s arguably Trent’s biggest strength.
 
To be honest, if he played in midfield, he'd probably occupy that inside right position anyway, so would we really lose what we already get from him? He's more dynamic than anything we have in midfield and we can get a rightback who's better defensively. Not that Trent is poor there, but he does get targeted and wander a fair bit.

Best of both Worlds really.
 
rurikbird said:
Being a terrific dribbler isn’t a prerequisite for a great CM though. Being a terrific passer is, and that’s arguably Trent’s biggest strength.
Click to expand...
Yes, but so are his shit careless passes. Something we rarely saw from a young Gerrard, apart from his long balls (talking short to mid length passes here).
Very happy to have him at right back.
 
If it aint broke, why fix it?
Thats probably were I’m at regarding Trent.

He might be a very good midfielder in the future, but now he’s a fantastic right back.
Arguably one of the best and most promising in the World. Record number of assists, part of a back 5 that have been excellent and such a key factor in our attacking play.

Leave him at right back. But as Klopp would say his position doesnt mean much, he’s pretty much involved everywhere.
 
Have to say whilst I don't believe Klopp will change the system (or move TAA upfield), and neither should he, I'd love to see what TAA could do at RM given a string of games. Maybe for England ?
 
I dont think he will be that great in midfield at all. Yes he has good distribution, but he gets more space by playing as a fullback.

Sent from my SM-G977B using Tapatalk
 
rurikbird said:
Being a terrific dribbler isn’t a prerequisite for a great CM though. Being a terrific passer is, and that’s arguably Trent’s biggest strength.
Click to expand...
Hmmm, I'm not sure I agree- an AM in the mould of Gerrard, which is what is being mooted here, needs many more attributes than good passing, unless we're imagining him as a regista style number 6. I was responding to him being heir-apparent to Gerrard, who was an excellent dribbler and powerful runner. He might have the tools to be a good midfielder, but he absolutely doesn't have Gerrard's (albeit incredible) attributes.
 
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