Trent Alexander-Arnold faces new ‘threat’ as Liverpool’s upgraded weapon becomes clear

Trent Alexander-Arnold has dominated Liverpool’s set-pieces under Jürgen Klopp, but he now appears to be facing Dominik Szoboszlai, a new player.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has become the best technician at his old club since he first burst onto the scene as a teenage wonderkid on Merseyside. The reason Jürgen Klopp has given the Scouse defender more responsibility is because of his renowned intricate passing range and his capacity for expert precision ball strikes.

Alexander-Arnold has consistently been urged to act like Liverpool’s talisman and a true playmaker for the Reds despite his reserved position as a member of a back four. He is one of only three defenders, including former Everton player Leighton Baines and teammate Andy Robertson, to have recorded more than 50 assists in the Premier League’s history at the age of 24, still only 24.

Alexander-Arnold has a knack for hitting whipped deliveries into the penalty area, as evidenced by the fact that over 30% of his assists in England’s top flight have come from dead-ball situations. The majority of set pieces awarded in Liverpool’s favor are managed by him, and the Reds profit from his expert execution.

From those circumstances, the Englishman has also discovered the net on several occasions. He isn’t particularly prone to scoring goals, in large part because of his deeper positioning, but over the course of his career, he has scored 12 times in the Premier League, with seven of those goals coming from set pieces.

In the Premier League, Alexander-Arnold has scored five goals directly from free kicks, with Liverpool typically benefiting from set-pieces in comparison to the typical English team. For instance, Klopp’s team led all teams in goals scored from set pieces last season, and it repeated the feat in both 2018/19 and 2019/20.

Given that baseball and basketball have higher scoring averages than football, for instance, Liverpool has used set pieces as an unconventional means of winning games. Alexander-Arnold has been the team’s most effective set piece taker, followed by Robertson, who also likes to assume control of his fair share of set pieces. However, the Reds might experience a change this year.

Liverpool spent money on Dominik Szoboszlai’s services earlier this summer. The Hungarian captain relocated to Anfield from RB Leipzig and has since been adjusting to life in England. The 22-year-old midfielder is anticipated to make his Premier League debut this weekend.

After Liverpool triggered a release clause in his contract, Szoboszlai agreed to terms for $76 million (£60 million/€70 million). While he doesn’t play in the same position as Alexander-Arnold, he is renowned for being extremely technical and even refined when he strikes the ball.

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, René Mari, who coworked with him when he was a young and promising athlete at Red Bull Salzburg, detailed his qualities.

Under Jürgen Klopp, Trent Alexander-Arnold has dominated Liverpool’s set pieces; however, it now seems that he is facing off against newcomer Dominik Szoboszlai.

Since making his Merseyside debut as a teenage wonderkid, Trent Alexander-Arnold has developed into the best technician at his old club.

The Scouse defender has been given more responsibility by Jürgen Klopp because of his reputation for deft passing ranges and his ability to strike the ball with expert precision.

Despite his reserved position as a member of a back four, Alexander-Arnold has frequently been urged to act like Liverpool’s talisman and a true playmaker for the Reds.

He is one of only three defenders in Premier League history—along with teammate Andy Robertson and former Everton player Leighton Baines—to have more than 50 assists in the league at the age of just 24.

In England’s top division, more than 30% of Alexander-Arnold’s assists have come from dead-ball situations, demonstrating his talent for whipped deliveries into the penalty area.

Because he oversees the majority of set pieces that end up favoring Liverpool, the Reds gain from his superb technique.

The Englishman also discovered the internet several times as a result of those circumstances.

Although his deeper positioning makes him less likely to score goals, he has 12 Premier League goals in the course of his career, including seven off set pieces.

Liverpool typically benefits from set-pieces compared to the typical English team, and Alexander-Arnold has scored five goals in the Premier League straight off free kicks.

For instance, in the 2017–18 season as well as the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons, Klopp’s team topped the league in goals scored from set pieces.

Liverpool has used set pieces as an unconventional strategy to win games because football has a lower scoring average than other team sports, like basketball or baseball, for example.

Robertson, who also likes to take control of his fair share of set pieces, has been the team’s second-most effective set piece taker after Alexander-Arnold.
This year, however, the Reds might go through a change.

The services of Dominik Szoboszlai were acquired by Liverpool this summer. After moving to Anfield from RB Leipzig, the 22-year-old midfielder is anticipated to make his Premier League debut this weekend. He’s since been settling into life in England.

Szoboszlai agreed to terms for $76 million (£60 million/€70 million) following Liverpool’s activation of a release clause in his contract.

Unlike Alexander-Arnold, he plays a different position on the field, but he is renowned for his incredibly technical and almost refined ball striking.

In fact, René Mari, who worked with him at Red Bull Salzburg when he was a young, promising athlete, described his characteristics in a recent interview with Sky Sports.