Again in 2018, Steven Gerrard praised a rising Liverpool expertise named Trent Alexander-Arnold, saying he would hold getting “higher and higher” in Jurgen Klopp’s thrilling system.
It might be just a few months on that Trent began within the Champions League last, shedding in opposition to Actual Madrid. Two years later, he’d received Europe’s elite competitors, and the Premier League too, and was comfortably ensconced on the elite desk of artistic gamers.
Gerrard wasn’t flawed. Final 12 months, Klopp remarked that the right-back is certainly “world-class,” a famous person who shall be a participant “individuals discuss in 40 years.”
Alexander-Arnold has made 352 appearances for Liverpool, thriving because the Scouser in his boyhood membership, his rise completely aligned with the sustained interval of success that has gifted this metropolis a lot. He has scored 23 objectives, and he has positioned 92 assists.
Now, aged 26, Trent stands on the sting of his prime years, peering in at what may very well be his most illustrious and spectacular but. That will not be at Liverpool, sadly, for he has introduced his determination to depart when his contract expires this summer season and signal for Madrid.
It is a bitter tablet to swallow; Merseyside is charged with emotion and lots of shall be unable to just accept his alternative. Nonetheless, it is taking place, and Liverpool have to work towards the subsequent chapter at right-back.
Liverpool’s plans at right-back
Conor Bradley’s emergence over the previous 15 months or so has been an unbelievable factor. Final season, he burst from the youth ranks like a leaping salmon, a boldness to his performances that left followers giddy with pleasure.
The 21-year-old is extra full than his positional peer, in fact, extra ‘appropriate’ as a traditional full-back. Although he is racked up ten assists from 54 senior appearances as a Crimson, nonetheless, he isn’t acquired Alexander-Arnold’s eye for a cross, his innate artistic aptitude.
That is to not Bradley’s detriment; Trent is a one-of-a-kind participant. The doubtless new star on the suitable flank does have his personal abilities, with a bounding athleticism that’s translated into efficient attacking assist and agency defensive software.
He was immense final 12 months, with Trent truly praising the Northern Irishman for his “completely phenomenal” begin to life as a first-team common on Merseyside.
Whereas his performances within the 2023/24 Premier League time period spotlight Bradley’s potential, he is missed 40 video games on account of numerous accidents because the begin of final season, and can’t but be trusted to play unbreakingly in Alexander-Arnold’s stead.
|
Conor Bradley – Premier League Stats (23/24) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat |
Per 90 |
Percentile |
|
Targets |
0.12 |
Prime 14% |
|
Assists |
0.36 |
Prime 3% |
|
Shot-creating actions |
3.23 |
Prime 10% |
|
Touches |
79.00 |
Prime 15% |
|
Passes tried |
63.35 |
Prime 21% |
|
Progressive passes |
3.47 |
Prime 51% |
|
Progressive carries |
4.18 |
Prime 2% |
|
Profitable take-ons |
1.55 |
Prime 4% |
|
Ball recoveries |
5.98 |
Prime 12% |
|
Tackles received |
2.99 |
Prime 1% |
|
Stats by way of FBref |
||
Liverpool have to signal a brand new right-back, and although they will not declare a switch payment for his or her outgoing vice-captain, his £180k-per-week wage is so much, and may now be utilized elsewhere, maybe towards bagging a successor.
Why Liverpool have to signal a brand new right-back
With Andy Robertson on the decline and Kostas Tsimikas by no means actually proving himself able to changing into Liverpool’s first-choice choice, Alexander-Arnold’s departure will not detract from the main focus at left-back.
Nonetheless, Liverpool may pounce on an thrilling star to tussle with Bradley for the primary spot, and there won’t be a greater choice available on the market than Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento.
Again in March, GIVEMESPORT revealed that whereas Bradley will proceed to be given alternatives to impress Slot, FSG are eager on including some competitors by way of Livramento, who performed an “excellent” function in profitable the Carabao Cup at Wembley in opposition to Slot’s facet in March, based on journalist Liam Kennedy.
Livramento, 22, joined Newcastle in a deal value £40m in August 2023, leaving Southampton after beforehand rising from Chelsea’s academy.
Final season, the dynamic defender’s progress was marred by damage, however he is gone from energy to energy underneath Eddie Howe all the identical, responding brilliantly to tactical recommendation and now thriving as an choice throughout each defensive flanks.
The one-cap England worldwide’s multi-positionality is curious. With Liverpool in want of gamers on each side of Slot’s backline, Livramento may very well be a beautiful addition, jockeying with Bradley whereas additionally knocking on Robertson’s door.
|
Tino Livramento – Profession Stats by Place |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Place |
Apps |
Targets |
Assists |
|
Proper-back |
87 |
1 |
6 |
|
Proper wing-back |
36 |
3 |
11 |
|
Left-back |
19 |
0 |
1 |
|
Left wing-back |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Stats by way of Transfermarkt |
|||
Would it not be irritating to say that FSG may bag two for the value of 1 in Livramento? This would possibly really feel like very typical FSG, nevertheless it makes a whole lot of sense, particularly since Robertson needs to remain put subsequent 12 months.
Journalist Zach Lowy has even gone so far as to say that the “particular” Magpies man “isn’t simply top-of-the-line proper backs in England, however top-of-the-line left backs too.”
He is artistic and versatile, with a neat mix of abilities that would actually see him succeed Alexander-Arnold, whereas enjoying completely different roles too.
His metrics definitely recommend that he has what it takes to thrive in Slot’s Liverpool set-up. As per FBref, the £50k-per-week expertise ranks among the many prime 16% of full-backs throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous 12 months for cross completion, the highest 15% for progressive passes, the highest 17% for each progressive carries and clearances and the highest 2% for ball recoveries per 90.
A ball restoration is outlined by the variety of unfastened balls recovered by a participant.
Whereas Liverpool merely cannot exchange Alexander-Arnold with a participant of an identical profile, Livramento is his personal sort of participant and will problem for a beginning berth throughout each defensive flanks.
His means on the left even means he may work together with Bradley. In any case, it is a deal Liverpool have to get carried out.
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