This seems like a no-brainer. You would argue it’s that Trent Alexander-Arnold we’re referring to, one of the best right-backs in the game.
Yes. Trent is one of the best right-backs in the world currently, but what do Real Madrid stand to gain from his departure from Liverpool?
Well, here’s what he can offer Real Madrid
Offensive Capability
If there’s one thing every fan is sure of, it’s the fact that Alexander-Arnold will definitely boost Real Madrid’s attack. As a right-back, he has the passing ability and vision of Kevin De Bruyne, which he has shown a lot in his time at Liverpool. He can turn defense to attack with just one pass, and he can slice open your defense with one long ball.
This ability means one thing for Real Madrid’s attack: they will get chances at goal. Trent looks up and sees Mbappe or Vinicius running, it’s just one long ball to their feet. More chances in front of the goal mean more goals.
Apart from being a good passer of the ball, he can dictate play and score as well. Most of Real Madrid’s defenders barely score; Alexander-Arnold edges them here. With his ability to go up and support in attack, he can get in on chances and score goals for the team. In Liverpool, he’s scored in crucial games to help win games, this is a big part of his game and Real Madrid can tap into it.
Dead Ball Specialist
Real Madrid have a new set-piece taker in Trent Alexander-Arnold. He is one of the best dead ball specialists in the game. He can strike a freekick cleanly and into the back of the net. Real Madrid will no longer have to guess if Mbappe is good at free kicks because a specialist is here.
He also sweeps in corners like a magician. Real Madrid can now turn corners into a weapon with the skills of Trent Alexander-Arnold. He is famous for ‘corner taken quickly’, something Real Madrid fans would’ve celebrated a lot as he did that against their rivals Barcelona. He can make them a threat from set-pieces with his delivery.
There is a downside to getting Trent
Although he’s good offensively, it’s no new discovery that he’s a liability defensively. Alexander-Arnold is not the type of player to rely on when it comes to defense and this adds more salt to injury for Real Madrid. This season, Madrid’s defense has been nothing to write home about and adding the Liverpool defender to a defense that has been shaky causes concern.
In the 2022 UCL final between the both sides, Trent’s wing was the place the goal came from. His failure to track Vinicius was what led to that goal.
His defensive abilities have been subject to criticisms recently. He seems switched off sometimes or just doesn’t do enough to make 1v1s difficult for wingers. Real Madrid would have to worry about this now because it’s no longer Liverpool’s problem.
The thing with Trent is that the pros outweigh the cons. At Liverpool, his defensive lapses were accommodated by adjusting the formation and setting up players to cover for him, and help when he couldn’t handle a winger. Trent has however shown promise of improving his defensive capabilities and if Real Madrid are going to get the best out of him, they need to make plans to cover his defensive lapses.
