Kevin De Bruyne’s crown as the Premier League’s creative genius is safe… for now.
That’s despite Jamie Carragher’s belief that Trent Alexander-Arnold can be Liverpool’s version of the Man City man in future.
The 20-year-old is one of the most consistent and dangerous attacking options for the Reds, despite playing as a right-back.
“People talk about the future and could he come into midfield and be a Kevin De Bruyne type player and he has more quality now that Liverpool’s midfield players,” said Carragher before the 4-3 win against Red Bull Salzburg.
“You think about the crosses that De Bruyne puts in from the right midfield position and maybe that’s a position where Trent could play.
“But at the moment you wouldn’t think about moving position because he is playing so well.”
And the player himself agrees.
“Maybe one day it will happen, but right now the manager sees me as a right-back and that’s where I’m going to play,” he said ahead of England’s Euro 2020 qualifier against the Czech Republic, which is live on talkSPORT on Friday.
“I just want to play football and if a manager decides he wants to use me as midfielder or a centre-back or a striker then that’s where I’ll play.
“I’m a defender first and foremost and then obviously I want to try and help the team create chances.”
Asked if he modelled his game on anyone in particular, Alexander-Arnold said Anfield icon Steven Gerrard was who he wanted to be like.
“Everything about his game I admired. I studied him and wanted to be like him,” he said of the former captain, who played 710 times for Liverpool and captained them to Champions League glory in 2005.
Gerrard was one of Liverpool’s most dangerous players going forward, qualities both Alexander Arnold and Andy Robertson possess.
The full-backs recorded 23 assists between them last season and on his crossing, Alexander-Arnold was much more modest, despite recording 15 assists in his 63 Premier League games so far, 12 of which came last season.
“It just happened naturally and developed it into a decent trait. It’s probably the best asset going forward, so I try and use it as much as I can.”
Danny Murphy says Trent Alexander-Arnold as good a crosser as David Beckham
