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Better at attacking than defending has been one of the most common ways to describe Alexander-Arnold’s career to date.<\/p>\n
A full-back who bombed forward, and sometimes in a hybrid right-back\/midfield role. <\/p>\n
For a while, then England boss Gareth Southgate even tried him as a regular midfielder. <\/p>\n
He left Anfield with 23 goals and 86 assists as he almost changed what the idea of a full-back can be.<\/p>\n
So all eyes were on how he would fare with a new team.<\/p>\n
“We know Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quality on the ball,” said former Newcastle and Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given on Dazn.<\/p>\n
“He is a phenomenal player.<\/p>\n
“Real Madrid in the Spanish league will have a lot of possession and Trent will play higher up the pitch.<\/p>\n
“He will be questioned in this tournament defensively as they come up against stronger opposition. Can he step up?<\/p>\n
“He said he wanted to go there and win the Ballon d’Or. That’s a big statement in itself.”<\/p>\n
Alonso lined up with a standard back four in Miami – as opposed to the wing-back system he enjoyed great success with at Bayer Leverkusen.<\/p>\n
Alexander-Arnold played at right-back and did get involved in midfield too.<\/p>\n
But as the graphics above show he did not get as involved as much centrally as he did in his last start for Liverpool, a 3-1 loss at Chelsea on 4 May.<\/p>\n
And he got involved in deeper positions too, to the right side of the penalty box, which is a place he was not seen as often in that game at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n
But he attempted more crossfield balls than he did at Chelsea (as evidenced by the graphics below).<\/p>\n
However – and it is something he might have to get used to until he settles in – he did not take any set-pieces for Real.<\/p>\n
Newcastle striker Callum Wilson, who has been in England squads with the defender, said: “I have not seen as many people strike a ball as cleanly as him. Free-kicks, corners, set-pieces, he is going to add that to their game.<\/p>\n
“He is going to be showing his qualities and won’t be getting challenged defensively as much.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n