TRENT A -ARNOLD Tactical analysis.

CONTROLLING THE GAME FROM RB POSITION.

Trent born on 7th October 1998 is a professional footballer for England National Team and plays Right back For one of the best club in the world, Liverpool. Born and brought up at Liverpool, he joined their Footballing academy in 2005 , from there he went on to do wonders at the youth level playing as a central midfielder. Trent also captained his youth side to some remarkable victories. Soon though Jurgen Klopp's eyes feel on this young prospect, and he was drafted into the side. He made his debut against their arch rivals Manchester United , playing at the right back position.

But how did this seemingly skinny kid went on to be regarded as one of the best Right back in the world? And what are the tactical evolutions that occurred in his short tenure as a Rb at Liverpool? What further changes can we expect ? And how can a Right back be a playmaker?   Well keep calm because we are going to unravel everything about this crafty young Playmaker.

POSITION ( RB , RM or RW ?)
Jurgen Klopp uses his Favoured 4-3-3 at Liverpool FC , using Trent as the RB . But there are different phases of play when this 4-3-3 formation changes. While defendings Liverpool's shape becomes a compact 4-4-2 with Roberto Firmino dropping deep. But while attacking it becomes 3-2-5 , with Fabinho/DM dropping deep alongside the Centre backs and the two full backs pushing higher up the pitch as wingers, and the wingers tucking in playing as inverted wingers and covering the half spaces. Thus our RB, TAA while attacking becomes a winger or a Right sided Midfielder.

This picture shows the passing pattern of Trent vs Manchester United on his debut. You can see all his passes are played from the orthodox RB position. But this next picture shows his passing pattern against Spurs this season (2019-20). Here most of his passes are played from RM position from the opposition half suggesting where he spends most of his time during the games.

This image does not only show how his position has changed but also how his output in attacking terms has improved in the past 3 years.

HOW HE CONTROLS THE GAME.
For most teams the whole game is controlled by players who make high number of passes, they control the tempo of the game. Sergio Busquets for Barcelona, Xavi Alonso for Liverpool, Xavi for Barcelona, Andrea Pirlo for Italy and Juventus, are some of the players who controlled the games for their sides effectively. Similarly Trent does that for Liverpool with his pin point accurate passing ability. Lets see how he changes his game under different circumstances to effectively act as a playmaker for his team.

1. Lofted Pass to His Front Men.
Like all good playmakers Trent too has an eye to pick out his front man with a lofted pass when they are in dangerous positions . His lofted passes more often than not , takes out the opposition's midfield completely giving Salah or Mane the chance to be in a One on One position vs the goalkeeper.

2. Crossing Ability.
No surprises when it comes to Trent's talent when it comes to crossing. Trent has provided 67 accurate crosses this season most in the premier league. If provided time and space he can pinpoint a cross from deeper positions . But when pressed Trent does deliver crosses near the 6 yard box inbetween goalkeeper and defenders ,which is a nuisance .

3. When Trent is Man-Marked in Games.
Trent somehow adapts his game when marked or pressed high of the pitch. Not only Trent but the whole Liverpool team understands his importance and they do make little adjustments when needed. When marked Trent moves to the midfield, and the midfielder mostly Henderson takes up the space vacated by Trent and his marker who moved with him. We have seen evidence of this against Manchester City when Trent cleverly moved inside and Henderson went wide to put a perfect and precise cross to Mane who scored with a terrific header.

4. Relationship with his Fellow Forwards.
Trent truly has a telepathic connection with each of Salah, Mane and Firmino. He understands their movement during open plays, set pieces and counter attacks, and with his ability he sets up goals.

5. Overlaps Like traditional full backs.
Not everything about Trent is modern. With lovely one-twos with the winger or midfielder, Trent makes well timed overlapping runs behind the opposition's defence to put perfect crosses.
6. Cut-inside , use the Left foot.
How often do you find a Right back using his left foot? Full backs are good with one foot not with both the feet, but Trent is not like our traditional Full backs. Playmakers should be ready to use both their feet to seize upon any chance they get to create.

7. Switching the Play.
  Its a crime if you analysis Trent but you forget to mention the classy switch of play he performs. Opposition team try to crowd one side of the pitch to reduce space for players thus reduce chance creation from open play, to counter this Trent switches play to Robertson the Left back who then has acres of space to run into.

SET PIECE SPECIALIST.
Trent has the ability to produce inch perfect passes into the box from corners or free kicks . He has provided numerous assists to Van Dijk and other defenders for this reason. He has mastered the art of causing havoc from set pieces and we might as well see more consistent goals from him through set pieces in the near future.

TECHNICAL BRILLIANCE
Trent Alexander Arnold is truly gifted with some brilliant technique. His technique most of the time allows him to find the perfect pass for his teammates whereas sometimes he uses his technique to score quality goals. Here is a example of how he scored a goal so easily with the outside part of his right boot , showcasing his technical brilliance.

MATCH WINNER
Not all playmakers, technically gifted players , assist providers are not match winners. Trent just doesn't get satisfied with one assist in a game , he goes again, tries to deliver another perfect ball and create another golden chance. He has won Liverpool games on his own many a times. Trent vs Watford where he provided 3 assists and took the match ball. Trent vs Brighton also against Spurs where he created 7 chances . But most notably his game against Leicester where he scored one and provided two this season which brought him such appreciation. Last time he received such applause , was when the phrase " Corner taken quickly " was on everyone's lips. He utterly demolished Barcelona with his pressing, crossing and quick thinking.

DEFENDING
Every truth has two sides; it is as well to look at both, before we commit ourselves to either. Same applies for every footballer too , even for the World class Trent Alexander Arnold. He is poor defensively, well that's what we say everytime someone prases him , don't we? But does he need to be good ? Well we should ask that to his manager Jurgen Klopp. Jurgen Klopp has used Trent Alexander Arnold in all the Finals Liverpool have played (4) , after his debut. This speaks wonders , Klopp trusts TAA. Klopp has been clever enough to play Trent and Robertson in a team where the midfielders are shielding the full backs. Unlike typical teams, Liverpool's midfield isn't productive but protective similarly Liverpool's Full backs aren't defensive but attacking. Like every manager has their own style of play , Klopp to has his own , which is effective enough.

Trent is good enough when it comes to tackling. Yes , he is good enough , every Liverpool fan who watch matches closely will agree to this. But the problem lies when he goes one on one against wingers there he gets caught. He doesn't have the necessary skills to go toe to toe against them and then snatch the ball with a well timed tackle. He gets beaten easily by wingers . But he more than makes it up with his attacking abilities. He is an ever evolving young talent who adapted from central midfield to Right back so effectively. With time he should develop his defensive side too . All great attackers start at a young age but defenders developed with experience.

WHY NOT PLAY CENTRALLY?
Only 4 players have more assists in Europe's top 5 leagues than Trent Arnold with Angel Di Maria, Jadon Sancho, Thomas Muller and kevin De Brune all ahead of the Liverpool defender's record this season. Alexander-Arnold has assisted more goals (12) than any other defender among Europe's top 5 leagues. He is so good at this position then why should we even move him somewhere else.

For the shake of discussion lets talk about Trent in Midfield. Earlier this season, Jurgen Klopp was asked which of his current players he's been most surprised by in terms of progression since his arrival at the club in 2015. Trent Alexander-Arnold was his answer, as he stated: "I have known him since he was 17 years old. He was a big talent but we were not sure he could do it physically. Now he is a machine – so he is a big surprise.' This shows Klopp' s confidence in TAA .
Then why doesn't he play him at the centre of the midfield? Its not about his ability but more about how the team plays tactically. Teams nowadays have understand how to minimise space , teams tend to crowd the central region not allowing playmakers have space or time. Thus Klopp developed his full backs ( Robertson and Trent ) to be playmakers. Thus Trent's presence at wider areas is more suitable tactically.

WHAT DOES HIS FUTURE HOLDS
"In the best team in Europe, the best playmaker is a right-back from West Derby. It's mad. It's strange. I have never seen a full-back have such an influence on a team before." Jamie Carragher's assessment of Trent Alexander-Arnold summed it up brilliantly what a footballer he is.

Alexander-Arnold has become the first ever defender to register 10 assists in consecutive seasons.Alexander-Arnold equalled Cesc Fabregas' record to sit as only the second player in Premier League history to reach 10 assists in two separate seasons aged 21 or younger.Since the beginning of the 2018/19 season, no Premier League player has registered more assists than Trent Alexander-Arnold. What does his future holds ? Just like Cafu said if he continues to do what he is doing probably he will win the Ballon d'or .