Trent Alexander-Arnold is a bright spot in midfield on a dire day for Liverpool

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  • Champions League final hopefuls Liverpool were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to relegation-threatened Stoke on Saturday.

    Mohamed Salah was guilty of profligacy with a rare first-half opportunity missed while teenager Trent Alexander-Arnold was also denied from close range.

    Every week we pick one player under the age of 23 from one of Europe’s top-5 leagues and analyse their performance and it was the turn of Reds teenager Alexander-Arnold.

    STATISTICS 

    Goals – 0

    Assists – 0

    Shots – 1

    Shots on target – 1

    Touches – 50

    Passes – 34

    Pass Accuracy – 70.6%

    Key passes – 0

    Crosses – 4

    30-SECOND REPORT

    The 19-year-old was the subject of hot debate pre-match as to exactly where he would be deployed.

    Jurgen Klopp was tight lipped to TV cameras as to Liverpool’s set-up in the wake of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s unfortunate knee injury against Roma.

    But Alexander-Arnold did indeed make a first senior appearance as a centre-midfielder in a three alongside Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum having played through the middle during his development in Liverpool’s youth systems.

    He largely alternated between spaces at right-wing-back and centre-mid but time and time again he was let down by infuriatingly wayward deliveries into the channel from Joe Gomez.

    The talented teenager was impressive on the ball, though, particularly in the first 45 minutes when he carried the hosts’ attack.

    Second-half he swapped to RWB as the Reds bolted into a 3-4-3 shape with Gomez coming inside before being brought off past the hour.

    GOT RIGHT

    First touch – It wasn’t just that his feel for the ball was excellent, it was his clever body position to manipulate space before receiving the ball which was impressive.

    Precision passing – Although his accuracy was down at 70 per cent, his passes were enterprising and the weight of distribution short or long was well weighted.

    GOT WRONG

    Eager delivery – One of his finest assets is his expert delivery but the teenager can be a little too eager to unholster that weapon with team-mates caught a little by surprise.

    Finishing – He twice burst into the box to pick up a good late position but on both occasions his finishing was awkward and lacked the type of composure we’re accustomed to.

    KEY MOMENTS

    4th minute CHANCE: Roberto Firmino has time to bring the ball under control via his chest on the edge of the Stoke box before slipping a pass along the inside-right channel for Alexander-Arnold. Under pressure from Eric Pieters, he scuffs his initial touch and clatters into Jack Butland as the ball skitters out of harms way.

    20th minute SHOT: Firmino sweeps tackle-come pass from left to right and Salah cushions the ball down, cuts back for the onrushing Alexander-Arnold but the ball bounces up off an awkward first touch and, off-balance, his shot is easily stopped from close range.

    31st minute CHANCE: Ball breaks in midfield, Alexander-Arnold drives from deep and threads a nicely weighted pass into the space for Salah to attack, Jack Butland is rapid off his line to claim but the ball slips from his grasp and the Egyptian picks up the loose possession before being fouled on the edge of the box.

    64th minute SUBSTITUTION: Alexander-Arnold’s senior debut as a centre-midfielder is brought to a close. Did appear to be struggling with a hip complaint going into the break so a sensible decision with him no doubt required for Wednesday’s semi-final second leg in Rome.

    VERDICT

    On a dire day for the Reds, Alexander-Arnold was a bright spot. Klopp will be fuming with his side’s overall deficiencies but will be quietly happy he has another trusted lieutenant to operate in midfield.

    RATING: 7/10

    All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com

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