3 hours ago
3
Gary Lineker has backed comments from Jamie Redknapp about Liverpool "missing" Trent Alexander-Arnold this season, after a week that saw the Reds lose three times.
The Merseyside outfit sold the right-back to Real Madrid at the start of the summer transfer window, ending months of persistent speculation. Alexander-Arnold had been set to leave Liverpool on a free transfer, but a deal was agreed with Real for the defender's departure before his contract expired, allowing him to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Reds then signed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen as Alexander-Arnold's successor, while Conor Bradley has stayed at Anfield and remains a promising talent.
But Saturday saw Liverpool fall to a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea in the Premier League, the third consecutive loss across all competitions.
And speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Lineker believes the Reds are missing Alexander-Arnold's attacking output this campaign.
"In terms of creativity, as much as anything else, I think they're really missing Trent," Lineker said. "Before that, sometimes Trent would go forward and they would, perhaps, get exposed defensively.
"But what he gives you going the other way, it's impossible to replace. There is not another player I can think of in world football who plays that position [right-back] in the way that he plays it offensively.
"I also think that Mo [Salah] is missing him, that connection that they had. Yes, sometimes they would get exposed in behind, but they would have someone try and cover that position - last season it was mostly [Dominik] Szoboszlai, previous to that would be Jordan Henderson.
"You've got to say it was worth his weight in gold going forward, and I always used to say, 'Stop worrying about him [Alexander-Arnold] making the odd tiny mistake defensively, because what he gives you the other way is incredible."
Lineker's comments echo those put forward by Redknapp over the weekend, with the former Reds icon similarly convinced his old club are experiencing difficulties in the right-back position.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Redknapp explained how Alexander-Arnold's absence has created significant challenges for boss Arne Slot throughout this season.
"They've got problems at full-back. They're missing Trent [Alexander-Arnold]," Redknapp told Sky Sports on Saturday.
"They haven't played the same right-back since the Burnley game. Bradley had a tough 45 minutes. [Milos] Kerkez hasn't quite adapted either — the pressure of playing for Bournemouth isn't the same.
"They have problems all over the pitch, but especially at full-back with [Andy] Robertson's injury at the end. This international break could be a good chance to reset."
Liverpool.com says: It's too easy to say that the Reds are missing Alexander-Arnold. He was a huge player for Liverpool but there is enough creativity in the rest of the team to be able to cope.
In a few weeks, if Salah, Wirtz and Isak can find some form, the idea that Slot's side are struggling could look very different. At the moment, none of them are playing that well, which is a bigger issue than at right-back.
English (US) ·