Liverpool had been held to a disappointing 0-0 draw within the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final conflict in opposition to Arsenal on Thursday evening.
Jurgen Klopp’s aspect had a person benefit for greater than an hour after Granit Xhaka’s sending off halfway by means of the primary half however had been unable to create any type of sustained strain in opposition to the Gunners.
Whereas the staff as a complete hardly acquired going, one man specifically who gave the impression to be actually off the tempo was Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The England worldwide made his comeback from a viral an infection at Anfield, however regarded a shadow of his actual self – maybe unsurprisingly so.
As per Sofascore, he misplaced possession 24 occasions over the course of the evening, with numerous these coming on account of his utterly wayward crossing – in actual fact, none of his 9 makes an attempt discovered their supposed goal.
Add to that the very fact he was a little bit of a light-weight defensively too, with Gabriel Martinelli giving him a troublesome time along with his relentless urgent and battling. Alexander-Arnold misplaced each single duel wherein he was concerned, whereas he made no tackles in any way.
Writing for The Liverpool Echo, Ian Doyle gave him a 5 in his post-match participant scores, saying: “Deliveries from corners inconsistent and struck one free-kick into the wall from place. Regressed dramatically throughout second half. Subbed.”
In his post-match press convention, Klopp was fast to confess that a few of his gamers, together with those that have suffered with the virus like Alexander-Arnold, simply didn’t look the identical.
He mentioned: “It’s unusual. Even with out signs, the boys, after they come again it’s not precisely the identical. I don’t assume there’s an evidence for that within the second, however we’ve got to think about that as properly. Joel solely got here again lately, Trent three days in the past. In order that’s clear.”
Given the affect Neco Williams had within the brief time that he was on the pitch – he had one shot, despatched in 4 crosses and acquired to the byline much more successfully – Klopp should critically take into account axing Alexander-Arnold from the beginning line-up in opposition to Brentford on Sunday.
The England defender simply wants a little bit of a breather after the virus and a little bit of match sharpness, maybe a while coming off the bench and constructing it up that approach.
Regardless of the case, he simply didn’t look himself on Thursday evening.
In the meantime, Liverpool have an interest on this midfield star…
