Jim Salveson, Marley Anderson and Matt Pidd discussed all of the latest Premier League news on a recent edition of the Football Social Daily podcast and during the show, they spent some time talking about Liverpool following their loss to Aston Villa on Sunday.
The reigning Premier League champions suffered their first defeat of the 2020/21 league campaign on Sunday as Villa stuck seven goals past them to earn a 7-2 win, giving them their third straight win of the 2020/21 Premier League season.
During this recent edition of the Football Social Daily podcast, Salveson asked Anderson if he believes Liverpool fans have got “reason to be concerned” following this heavy defeat, to which he replied by sharing some criticism for the Reds’ defence and, in particular, right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, saying: “People will be like, ‘maybe they’re not impenetrable.’
“Maybe they are starting to realise that one of their back four – Trent Alexander-Arnold – cannot defend, and he can maybe be exploited if you can keep him out at the other end, then maybe you can get chances on the break.”
Can Alexander-Arnold defend?
YES
NO
TIF Thoughts…
Liverpool have kept just one clean sheet in their opening four Premier League games, with the Reds conceding three in a 4-3 win over Leeds United in their first game of the league season and then conceding seven versus Villa this past weekend and it seems as though Anderson believes that the Reds’ opponents will be given confidence by the fact that teams have managed to put plenty of goals past Jurgen Klopp’s side in the Premier League this term.
Judging by his comments, it’s also clear that Anderson believes that Alexander-Arnold is a weak link for Liverpool’s defence, with the podcaster declaring that he “cannot defend.”
According to WhoScored, tackling and aerial duels are two weaknesses to the £99m-rated man’s game and this may back up Anderson’s claim about his defensive ability, so hopefully for the Reds, as this season progresses, the right-back can work on that side of his game and perhaps make it less of a weakness.