In some ways, it was a season that completely encapsulated Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s profession thus far, however may a brand new supervisor lastly see his function change for good?
Liverpool’s new vice-captain took one other step in the direction of an nearly inevitable inheritance of the armband on the membership in 2023/24, as long as he resists any potential temptation from Actual Madrid.
The proper-back – sure, we’re nonetheless calling him that – already carried an immense burden previous to his promotion inside the management group, appearing as an academy poster boy, native hero and inheritor to Steven Gerrard‘s throne all through his youthful years.
Now, the previous skipper would kill for Alexander-Arnold’s medal assortment on the age of simply 25, however the largest chapter in his Anfield story may but be penned and essentially the most vital questions might quickly be answered by the brand new boss.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, 2023/24
Began: 29 (All competitions)
On as an alternative: 8
Unused sub: 1
Targets: 3
Assists: 9
Total Season Ranking: 7
A rocky street
As was a typical theme all through a lot of the squad, Alexander-Arnold’s marketing campaign was a considerably extra bumpier trip than he would have hoped, on account of health problems.
A hamstring damage stopped him in his tracks again in September following what had been one other promising begin, however he quickly regained his standing as one of the crucial very important cogs within the Jurgen Klopp machine in his inverted full-back function.
Subsequent knee ligament issues started shortly after the flip of the yr earlier than reoccurring the next month, and protecting him out of a major chunk of the run-in.
Throughout that point, a sure Conor Bradley made it his mission to emphatically announce himself on the senior stage.
His showings at right-back prompted conversations a couple of future transfer into midfield for Trent, later compounded by the information that we’d be getting a brand new handle in the summertime – however extra on that later.
Whereas it’s true that we are going to doubtless by no means absolutely know the place Klopp needed Alexander-Arnold to be at every given second on the pitch, it’s truthful to say there have been occasional defensive lapses through the first half of the marketing campaign.
These added gasoline to the fireplace so far as these conversations round transferring to midfield have been involved.
Incomparable affect
The place there have been shortcomings and sporadic bouts of criticism, there have been durations of utter brilliance in equal measure.
The 25-year-old continued to show that solely Kevin De Bruyne can realistically be thought of to be on the identical planet so far as creativity goes within the Premier League.
Whereas he didn’t fairly hit the stratospheric help numbers he has reached in earlier years, he merely mesmerised us along with his imaginative and prescient and passing at varied factors all through the season.
Alongside that, he reminded us of his capabilities as a match winner and goalscorer by stepping up within the very important moments by which you want to have the ability to rely in your best.
He single-handedly rescued three factors inside the house of eight days with breathtaking late strikes in opposition to Man Metropolis and Fulham, with out which our title bid would doubtless have by no means actually caught hearth post-Christmas.
There have been a number of equally-sublime cases by which he arrange his teammates, a combination of pleasant clipped balls, trademark set-pieces and world class long-range switches.
May it lastly be time for the midfield transfer?
Earlier than Arne Slot had even set foot on Merseyside, many followers had already drawn their very own conclusions about what nonetheless lies in retailer for the Reds’ No. 66 so far as his place on the pitch is worried.
Many consider he has at all times been destined to finally step into midfield and comply with within the footsteps of his former idol, others really feel the arrival of a brand new supervisor often is the catalyst for that.
The Dutchman seems to favour a 4-2-3-1 formation and having the ability to share the defensive burden with somebody like Alexis Mac Allister as a part of a two may properly be the proper tonic to unleash extra of his potential.
The flip facet of that coin is that he has proven us on numerous events previously that he’s greater than able to being the principle character at right-back, his 79 profession assists mirror that.
Whichever method you land on it, it’s clear that the vice-skipper will probably be an important a part of our hopes of success on this new period of the soccer membership.
For this reason securing his long-term future is important, making certain that his contract scenario shouldn’t be one thing we enable to unfold into an even bigger story than it must be.
On his day he stays top-of-the-line and most unusual footballers on the planet. You possibly can assure Slot is relishing the prospect of working with him no matter what he has received deliberate with him tactically.
Get that contract in entrance of him, please, Reds.
Greatest second: The sensible late winner in entrance of the Kop at house to Fulham.
Worst second: A tricky return from damage up in opposition to Gabriel Martinelli in an in the end expensive defeat on the Emirates again in February.
Position subsequent season: Whether or not it’s at right-back, in midfield or within the hybrid function, one factor you could be certain of is that he’ll proceed to be one of the crucial essential males on the pitch.
