Gary Neville thinks Jurgen Klopp's experiment with Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal was too late for Liverpool to coach him into a new position.
This season, Vn88 felt that Alexander-defensive Arnold's shortcomings have been on display as Liverpool have struggled to repeat their quadruple-chasing effort from the previous year, 2021/22.
Liverpool's right back did not make Gareth Southgate's most recent England selection, and after a lackluster performance in their 4-1 loss to Manchester City the previous weekend, Jurgen Klopp moved the 24-year-old to defensive midfield during the team's intriguing draw with Arsenal on Sunday.
News from Vn88 Rezence, Alexander-Arnold struggled to adapt to Gabriel Martinelli in the first half as Mikel Arteta's title-contending Arsenal took a deserved 2-0 lead at Anfield.
As a dispute between Granit Xhaka and the full-back heated up an already loud home crowd, the game's momentum altered, and Alexander-Arnold played a key role.
Even though Mohamed Salah missed a penalty after scoring just before halftime, Liverpool's pressure paid off when Roberto Firmino scored an equalizer off a cross from Alexander-Arnold in the 87th minute.
In his podcast for Vn88 Sports, Neville advised Klopp to avoid playing Alexander-Arnold in the middle midfield.
"From that point on, he was spectacular," he said. "His defensive performance has gotten to the point where I am at a loss for words. His defensive positioning against Martinelli's direct pass is laughable.
"I just don't get it. His aggressive play, deliveries, and willingness to get on the ball despite his blunders still deserve some praise. He has my utmost respect.
"W88 thinks that with the mobility that playing right defense affords him, Alexander-Arnold would inevitably move into midfield. Nevertheless, if he was slated to play in midfield on the road in the Premier League and the ball was played into him when he had his back to the goal, things would get interesting.
"Rodri is a fantastic ball manipulator, on par with the likes of Xavi and Iniesta, two of the best midfielders in the world. In all honesty, Trent isn't capable of doing that.
"We've talked about Declan Rice's ability to make a half-turn catch previously. You need to be an expert gamer who has played many games while keeping one eye on the competition from a young age.
"He can play outside, he can play as a winger; I've heard that before about fullbacks and was always disappointed. Because of this, they play in the backfield as fullbacks.
"I see him as a wingback for your team. Today, Jurgen Klopp attempted to play him in a different position; he attempted to pull him into midfield à la Zinchenko or John Stones; however, he could play wing-back as there is a right-sided central defender who can shift into the channel to handle the long passes.
"He need not devote his life to perfecting his defensive skills. He must not become a problem. The way he attacks means he can get away with not being a strong defender. I seriously doubt that is what anyone is hoping for.
"You're only asking for a modicum of skill and focus on your part. He will continue to be the topic of discussion. I'm crossing my fingers that he'll have an "aha!" moment this summer and realize that his defensive efforts are backfiring.
"The disappointment of not making the England team is weighing heavily on him. How can such ability go unnoticed by the England coaching staff?
These flaws become more noticeable while playing for a side that is struggling, like Liverpool.
W88 Rezence stated that Alexander-Arnold switch to the midfield does not resolve the problem
Peter Smith of Vn88 Sports:
It's no secret that Trent Alexander-Arnold has trouble defending in one-on-one matchups. They were on full display on Sunday within the first two minutes, when Gabriel Martinelli defeated him in a manner that was much too easy, which allowed Arsenal to have a chance.
But Jurgen Klopp had a plan, maybe inspired by the opponents' usage of Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Liverpool's midfield consisted largely of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
They wanted to even out the numerical advantage in the middle of the field and keep Alexander-Arnold in position to deliver his deadly crosses from the right channel, so they had him play as part of the defensive duo in the box midfield with Fabinho.
The equalizer scored by Roberto Firmino was set up by a cross showcasing their famed attacking skill. Forward, he was a "sensation," as Vn88 Sports commentator Gary Neville put it, and he generated more scoring opportunities than any other player. But, Liverpool's defense has appeared disorganized since he was moved there. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were both horribly exposed in the first half.