Trent Alexander-Arnold's new role has been the talk of the town at Liverpool as a positional switch has coincided with the Reds' uptick in form.
It all started with the Arsenal game, in which Liverpool pulled an amazing comeback from 2-0 down to make it 2-2. After the Gunners game, the Reds have gone on a four-game winning streak, playing some beautiful football in the process.
Alexander-Arnold was a key player for Liverpool in these five games providing six assists, compared to just two in 27 previous league matches this season.
So what's changed? Let's take a look.
Before the switch, even in the most successful games for Liverpool this season Trent had played as a conventional right-back: staying wide, occasionally underlapping Salah. Here's his heat map from the 7-0 United thrashing:
Now Trent is not limited to the wing. He drifts centrally more often, acting as a fourth midfielder in possession; he even occasionally moves to the left. Have a look at his involvement in the 4-3 win against Spurs:
In the new position, Trent gets more time on the ball, makes more touches and has more space to play his excellent passes.
This is how Liverpool's opening goal against Spurs was created: Trent finds himself in the right-centre channel, gets the ball and then whips in one of his GPS-tracked crosses for Curtis Jones.
In another episode, Trent is on the left helping Jones and Diaz dispossess a Spurs player. Seconds later, it will lead to Gakpo winning a penalty.
So, Alexander-Arnold is no longer glued to the right. He's almost completely free to roam to where the ball is — simply because that's where Liverpool need him the most.
A positional change doesn't mean that Trent is no longer a right-back by definition. He's not a midfielder full-time — when Liverpool lose possession, the 24-year-old is back to his full-back duties.
Same game: Spurs are attacking and Trent is at right-back:
If the opponent counter-attacks as in this episode below, Trent is rushing back to cover his flank. Here he tries to put pressure on Perisic:
Liverpool are effectively playing a three-at-the-back with Trent still higher up the pitch (more on this below) before Trent restores the back-four shape.
What are the weaknesses of Trent's new hybrid role?
Trent's new position increases his attacking output but makes it even more difficult for Liverpool to defend on the right.
Alexander-Arnold has never been a good defender: his positioning and recovery pace are not impressive and the Reds have conceded plenty of goals because of that.
These problems are getting exacerbated by his new role as he'll often be missed in defending because he can't get to the spot on time.
This is precisely what happened when Spurs had their first chance to score: Robertson gives the ball away, Son rushes forward and goes one-on-one against Alisson. We took a really wide screenshot — and Trent is still not in the frame.
In these moments, a lot depends on how the right-sided centre-back anticipates the situation. Basically, Konate or Matip doubles up as a right-back while Robertson tucks in for extra cover and the formation changes to a three-at-the-back.
Sometimes the plan goes to hell and Liverpool concede. Here's Tottenham's first: Trent is too far away to influence anything but it's Konate leaving his position and going forward that forces a Perisic v Van Dijk duel.
Another example of potential weaknesses that Trent's new position creates is down to the lack of cohesion in the Reds' defence.
Here's a screenshot we previously used to illustrate Trent moving from his midfield position to that of a right-back.
This is Tottenham's second goal. Romero plays a through ball for Son who avoids the offside trap and puts the ball into the net, setting up the Reds for a nervy end-game.
It’s not really on Trent as Robertson could’ve played Son offside but he, Van Dijk and Konate have an extra task to cover for Trent. The mistake is more about the system being new and unfamiliar.
Should Liverpool keep using Trent in his new hybrid role then? At the moment, the answer is yes as his attacking contribution outweighs the additional defensive vulnerability while Liverpool look like Liverpool again.
And what do you think about Trent's new role?
