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Trent Alexander-Arnold proved Roy Keane wrong in the best possible way with Liverpool

tom malley
·2-min read
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Trent Alexander-Arnold issued the perfect response to recent criticism from Roy Keane with a chart-topping defensive display against Chelsea.

The Reds right-back overcame a recent bout of illness to make the starting lineup on Sunday and produced a dominant performance to help his side emerge as 2-1 victors at Anfield, limiting Jadon Sancho and then Pedro Neto down the right flank.

While a clean sheet would have been the icing on the cake, the 26-year-old performed admirably nonetheless, and continued his hot streak of form following an impressive international break with England earlier this month.

Yet despite scoring a sublime free-kick in last weekend's 3-1 victory over Finland and hardly putting a foot wrong in his unusual left-back role, Keane tore into Alexander-Arnold for his defensive frailties.

"If you give time to Trent, you can see his decision-making, his quality passing is fantastic but honestly, I still can't believe how bad he is defensively," the 53-year-old said on ITV. "Against better teams, of course he'll be found out."

However, on his first opportunity to do so, Alexander-Arnold proved the former Manchester United midfielder wrong, with no player winning more duels (5), tackles (4) or making more clearances (4) than the Reds defender in Liverpool's game with Chelsea.

The academy graduate also made one block for good measure and racked up a total of 10 defensive actions throughout the 81 minutes he was on the pitch.

Alexander-Arnold has come under fire for his defensive qualities on a number of occasions before - and not just from Keane - but has once again proved that he has become a professional in his position for a reason.

With the role he plays in Liverpool's team, his attacking attributes are often focused on more, which can let his defensive side down, but there's no doubting that when he needs to step up and revert back to fulfilling his primary role as a right-back, he has no issue with taking it on and succeeding.