‘Unbelievable’ – Roy Keane heaps praise on Liverpool star amid game-changing form
Pundit Roy Keane has been signing the praises of Liverpool and England star Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The 23-year-old has been in brilliant form this campaign, notching two goals and 10 assists from 20 Premier League appearances. He is in line to to break his own record of 13 assists by a defender in a single league campaign, which came in 2019-20.
Incredibly, that broke his previous record of 12 in 2018-19, making Alexander-Arnold one of the most effective defenders in Premier League history.
The right-back’s influence doesn’t just put him alongside the best in his position. Since August 2018, only Thomas Muller and Lionel Messi have gained more assists in Europe’s top five leagues.
Alexander-Arnold is locked in an intriguing battle with team-mate Andy Robertson, as the two regularly achieve the most assists by defenders in the top flight.
Trent is changing perceptions – Roy Keane
They have changed the nature in which a full-back or wing-back operates, as they have as much influence as an attacker in most games.
While appearing on Sky Sports, Keane lauded Alexander-Arnold and suggested he is changing the way in which full-backs are viewed.
14 – Trent Alexander-Arnold has made 14 assists for Liverpool in all competitions this season, the most of any Premier League player; indeed, no one else has more than 10. Delivery. pic.twitter.com/hIqVsBP1Q5
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 20, 2022
“Absolutely brilliant,” he said (via the Daily Mirror). “What a player. Fantastic. The stats are absolutely brilliant, brilliant player, local lad bet he can’t believe his luck. [The] chances he creates, the assists – unbelievable.
“[He] looks like a good athlete, a decent lad, a brilliant player and we all get excited about attacking players but to get excited about a full-back it’s how the game’s changed over the last few years. The full-backs are so important.
“The assists and positions he gets himself in, he’s brave got a lot of courage – what a brilliant player.”
The Liverpool-born ace did not get a goal contribution in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace. However, he did get one in Liverpool’s previous two league outings, against Chelsea and Brentford respectively.
Alexander-Arnold was also involved in both goals as Liverpool beat Arsenal 2-0 to reach the Carabao Cup final.
Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool were ‘sloppy’
Following the 3-1 win over Palace, during which the Eagles should have had at least three goals, Klopp said: “It was a bit Jekyll and Hyde football today. You could see how good we can be. We were incredible in the first 35 minutes.
“Then after an intense week, away at Arsenal, I don’t have any real explanation but the intensity might be one. We became sloppy in the last line.
“In the second half we were not compact, the first line pressed too high and the distance was not right. We played a high line and did not catch them offside which was our fault of course.”
The Reds host Cardiff City at Anfield in the FA Cup on Sunday February 6. They will take on Leicester in the Premier League four days later.
READ MORE: ‘They’re desperate’ – former star hopeful Liverpool can keep forward for ‘three or four years’
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