Former Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas has heaped praise on right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold after Liverpool completed a brilliant comeback over Barcelona in the semi-final of the Champions League.
3-0 down from the first leg, they won 4-0 thanks to a brilliant Alexander-Arnold assist in the 79th minute.
Seeing the Barcelona defence switch off, Alexander-Arnold took a quick corner and found Divock Origi, who scored his second and Liverpool’s fourth, with the Spanish giants unable to find a reply.
Fabregas sent out a Twitter message saying, “Alexander-Arnold, 20 years old. People will tell me it’s bad defending, I’m telling you it’s pure intelligence and vision.”
Fabregas sent the tweet on Tuesday night, shortly after Alexander-Arnold’s wonder assist.
Alexander-Arnold, 20 years old. People will tell me it’s bad defending, I’m telling you it’s pure intelligence and vision.
— Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official) May 7, 2019
OPINION
It’s frightening to think that Alexander-Arnold is only 20-years-old. And, while the world has been wowed by the Liverpool attack this season, it’s easy to overlook the contribution from both of their full-backs. Alexander-Arnold has assisted 15 goals in all competitions this season now, and Andy Robertson is only just behind him with 13. With the goal that Trent has scored too, that’s 29 goals they’ve been directly involved in this season. That’s an absolutely incredible return from your full-backs. We really hope this Liverpool team go and win something this season and it’s now looking much more likely it will be the Champions League. To lift that trophy they’ll have to overcome either Tottenham or Ajax in the second semi-final tonight. It’s advantage Ajax as they hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Tottenham, but it could still easily be an all-English final.