Trent Alexander-Arnold could dominate in inverted full-back role, says Darren Bent

Former Tottenham striker Darren Bent has urged Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to play Trent Alexander-Arnold in an inverted full-back role, saying that the English right-back could do serious damage if given less defensive responsibilities. Bent compared Alexander-Arnold to Manchester City’s John Stones, who has excelled in the position this season, using his ball retention and playmaking abilities to great effect.

Alexander-Arnold has been criticized for his defensive performances and would benefit from a positional change, Bent said. He added that Klopp had experimented with playing Alexander-Arnold in an inverted full-back role against Arsenal, but the player struggled to adapt. However, Bent believes that Alexander-Arnold’s exceptional range of passing and technique could make him hugely effective in the position.

Co-host Andy Goldstein suggested that the move could help reduce Alexander-Arnold’s defensive duties, allowing him to thrive in a more creative role. However, Roy Keane criticized Alexander-Arnold’s defensive capabilities in a recent game against Arsenal, saying that the player had not improved in that area in recent years.