Trent Alexander-Arnold in Madrid, Added Value or Weak Point?

Wing-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been confirmed to leave Liverpool at the end of the season. A heartfelt farewell has been expressed. Some fans are able to let go, while others remain upset. Regardless of the reactions from outsiders, his decision is final at this point and cannot be changed.

Alexander-Arnold will join Real Madrid next season. He is heading to a club known as a galaxy where football stars gather. Liverpool has indeed been Alexander-Arnold's childhood dream team. However, the little boy within him has evolved, including his dreams.

The 26-year-old defender is looking for a new challenge after playing 352 times and contributing two English Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy for "The Reds." Therefore, rather than questioning the appropriateness of Alexander-Arnold's departure, discussions about his future are more intriguing.

Alexander-Arnold is indeed one of the best right-backs in the world today. However, as a defensive player, he has always faced criticism for his inadequate ability to mark opponents. Can the impact of this weakness be tolerated in Madrid, as it has been with Liverpool?

According to Whoscored, Alexander-Arnold has been passed 55 times in the Premier League this season. That is the most of any defender in Europe's top five leagues. He was so lethargic in defence that he was shouted at several times by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool can address that weakness by compromising on their tactical approach. Defender Ibrahima Konate and the midfielders have the additional task of covering the gaps on the right side of the defense. Although they can still be exposed by opponents at times, this method remains the best option.

The problem is that Madrid is different from Liverpool. They already have their own issues with maintaining the current system. The team coached by Carlo Ancelotti has lost several major matches due to a porous defensive structure on various sides.

Thierry Henry, the legendary striker of the French national team, analyzed the biggest issues facing Madrid last April. The problem lies with three forwards: Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo. According to Henry, they are the reason for Madrid's failure in this season's Champions League.

The three are among the five players with the lowest minutes of coverage per 90 minutes. “A lot of times, your best players are on that list, but three of them on one team? That’s a lot in my opinion and it has to do with the balance of the team,” Henry said on CBS Sports.

In the modern era of football, defense always begins with the forwards. They are responsible for pressing when the ball is lost and closing down the passing lanes to the opposing team's midfield. This has not been evident in Madrid, especially since the arrival of Mbappe last summer.

It is difficult to imagine Madrid having to cover for Alexander-Arnold. They have a rather complex problem in their current system. The midfielders, such as Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde, are already struggling to fill the gaps left by the attackers.

Interestingly, Ancelotti is almost certain not to lead Madrid next season. A new coach will arrive with a new system. This brings great hope for Alexander-Arnold. Moreover, the figure targeted by Madrid is Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso.

Alonso is well-known for the 3-5-2 formation at Leverkusen. In this system, the primary responsibility of the two wing-backs is to support the attack. Defensive duties are assigned to the three central defenders. Alexander-Arnold appears to be well-suited to play a role similar to that of Leverkusen's wing-back Jeremie Frimpong.

Regardless of the weaknesses in defense, Alexander-Arnold's attacking quality is too valuable for Madrid to overlook. He could address Madrid's shortcomings on the offensive side this season, as evidenced by their loss to Arsenal in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Mbappe and his teammates were frustrated at that time due to the tight defense of the opposing team. They could only rely on crosses, which were made 42 times. Unfortunately, only seven of those crosses found their target. The passes would have been more efficient if there had been Alexander-Arnold.

Alexander-Arnold is noted as a reliable cross-provider. He is among the top ten players with the most crosses in the English Premier League. In addition, the defender born in Liverpool is also skilled at delivering long passes. This will benefit Mbappe and Vinicius.

The added value on the attacking side is reflected in the number of assists by Alexander-Arnold, which has reached 64 in the domestic league. No other defender has been able to achieve 60 assists in the records of the five major European leagues. He feels like a figure akin to David Beckham playing in the backline.

"If there is one player that I feel is similar to me in terms of passing the ball, it is Trent," said Beckham in the podcast Rio Ferdinand Presents in October 2024. "Honestly, he is an amazing player. His vision of the game is extraordinary," he continued, who also once wore the Madrid jersey.

Certainly, Alexander-Arnold will not simply secure a core position. He must first compete with veteran defender Dani Carvajal, who will return from a long injury next season. The new coach of Madrid will undoubtedly face a dilemma in determining the position of the wing-back.

Nevertheless, it is a sweet dilemma. The coach simply needs to select players according to needs and conditions. This is unlike what Ancelotti has experienced this season. The seasoned coach even had to pull Valverde to the wing-back position due to a player crisis. (AP/REUTERS)