The constant criticism of Trent Alexander-Arnold has continued from all sides despite the Liverpool player scoring a beautiful freekick against Rangers in the Champions League to help his side to their second win in the competition. While his offensive exploits have never been in doubt, Alexander-Arnold has faced the flak for his poor defending. Moreover, despite making early errors which cost Liverpool dearly, the 24-year-old hasn’t improved much in with the defensive contribution.
Frank Lebeouf, who had earlier labelled the England international a ‘Championship level’ player, now lashed at him with for not making any improvements. The former Chelsea defender has constantly called out Alexander-Arnold for upping his offensive game at cost of the basics of defending. In an new rant, Lebeouf stated that though he loves the playmaker Alexander-Arnold, the right-back will never outrank his counterparts due to the defensively poor Alexander-Arnold.
Lebeouf laments Trent Alexander-Arnold as a ‘great player’ who will ‘never improve’
Trent Alexander-Arnold has so far committed 4 errors directly leading to a goal in just 10 games so far this season. Be it the opening day draw at Fulham, shock loss against Manchester United or the Napoli drubbing in the Champions League, the Liverpool right-back was at fault in all three games. And his most recent shambolic performance was against Brighton at home where the Seagulls scored three goals to walk away with a draw.
In his interview with Journal du Dimanche last month, Lebeouf had claimed that the Liverpool player is “defensively Championship level”. However, explaining his comments which the World Cup winner says were used by the English media to depict him as a ‘racist’, told ESPN:
“Thanks to the English media who took only half of the sentence that said I made sure it was obviously very harsh and hard on Trent Alexander-Arnold. I was only saying ‘I love the guy, offensively as a full-back absolutely very fantastic, one of the best’, but defensively I said ‘really its Championship level, I would love to help him, I would love to tell him just look behind’.
“What I said became only ‘Alexander-Arnold only Championship level player’. [I] Never said that, [its] out of context, but thanks to English media now that people are insulting me and are saying I am a racist. But I really think that Trent Alexander-Arnold is a great player and he will never improve defensively, because he doesn’t have the basics. He had people covering him, helping him [earlier], I understand that. But that’s something we don’t see anymore.
“When you are not in good shape, and you and your team is not playing well, your weaknesses are shown more than usually. But I really wish, because I really love the guy that TAA is going to be much better very soon.”
Liverpool are next up against Premier League leaders Arsenal, and Klopp’s men will be uplifted after their Champions League win over Rangers. Alexander-Arnold more so since he was on the score-sheet against the Scottish side and had a decent game. He now awaits his toughest test yet, going up against Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli who has been in scintillating form this season.