GRAEME SOUNESS: Trent Alexander-Arnold is a lovely footballer. But against the best, midfield isn’t the right place for him

• Alexander-Arnold is a huge asset to Liverpool and the best ball striker in league
• He is not good enough defensively to play in midfield for the Reds, however
• Man City have dipped, but Gary Neville is WRONG to say they’re complacent – Listen to It’s All Kicking Off

The last few weeks have confirmed what we have known for a long time: that in Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool have the best striker of a ball within these shores.

I see in Trent the quality that Steven Gerrard always had when it came to the delivery of the ball. An ability which is also up there with what David Beckham had. Trent is on another level in today’s game — not just with that unerring accuracy when delivering from distance, but with his short passing, which is excellent.

When you are up against a level of ability like that, sides will be worried and alarm bells will ring for managers.

Steven had such a metronomic ability to deliver any ball he collected deep within his own defence. When he went deep to get the ball from his back-four, my instructions were for my own back-four to drop, as it was not a simple pass he was going to attempt. Also, when Steven was within shooting distance, you had to get in as quickly as possible to stop him getting a shot off. Like Steven, Trent can strike the ball any way he chooses — from a fade, to a draw, to sheer power.

His defensive skills are not at that same level. Even at right back — a position from which you can often see every other player on the pitch, except your goalkeeper, and have more time to sense danger — he is not always able to anticipate the threat and respond to it in time.

Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold is the best striker of a ball in England and has the quality Steven Gerrard and David Beckham both had during their legendary playing careers

We have seen the best of him once again in the last few weeks with some important goals

He is not as good defensively, however, and would struggle playing in midfield because of that

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Against the weaker teams, when Liverpool are dominating the ball, that new midfield role will be perfect for Trent. But against the better teams, I feel there may be a problem for him and his team.

In that central part of the pitch, everything is happening faster than anywhere else and your thought processes need to be that much quicker.

If you’re not calculating what will happen at full back, where there is more time, then you will certainly find it difficult to do so in the centre — against the stronger sides, at least.

But as a manager, you would always want such a rare talent as Trent’s in the final third for you — shooting, picking a pass, delivering the ball with an ability surpassing anyone else in the Premier League. 

Liverpool saw that from the very start, because Trent was a midfielder before he became a full back. It was from midfield that he scored two goals for Liverpool’s Under 18s, while still a 16-year-old, against Manchester United at Carrington back in 2015.

There must have been a reason why he was moved to the role at full back. Perhaps it was a way of getting him into the starting XI. But it is further up the field that be brings such danger — just like Steven, who started out as a right back but then found his natural position.

Incidentally, I was also started at full back by Jack Charlton when I began my career at Middlesbrough in 1972. But I sure as hell didn’t want to stay there!

It is rare to get a talent like Trent in the final third, but he would struggle in midfield against stronger teams

If you can’t calculate what is going to happen at full-back, you will struggle in midfield

For Gareth Southgate, it will be a question of how to get the best out of Trent in next summer’s Euros. I don’t think he makes it into midfield, which is an area where England are very well served. Neither do I see Gareth selecting him in his four-man defence. As a pragmatic, cautious ex-defender, Gareth wants the most defensively solid back-four at all times and I anticipate Kyle Walker getting the nod at right back.

But I can still see Trent making an impact next summer, coming off the bench. Gareth just needs to find ways to get him in the last third for England — putting fear into defenders. The fact it might be as a substitute demonstrates the strength in depth at England’s disposal.

There may be times when Liverpool concede to the better sides because of his defensive shortcomings against a ball over the top or between him and his centre half. But there will be many more times when we are witnessing the sort of strike that he has delivered in the past few weeks.

Liverpool’s attacking options surpass all their rivals and Trent is one of the reasons why.

Liverpool’s attacking options are better than all their rivals’ and Trent is one of the reasons why

Media ban will backfire on United

I was surprised to hear that Manchester United have banned a number of media organisations this week. I don’t think that was wise.

There was an occasion, as a manager at Newcastle, when I terminated all contact with a newspaper, whose journalist I felt was continually working against the club. But I never made that kind of move en masse. It’s an extremely dangerous one because the excluded ones are then forming an alliance against you. 

This is an early Christmas present for all the banned group, who now have a free hit. United have a new minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, walking through the door next week and this only adds fuel to the fire he is walking in on.

What puzzles me most is that the story United are unhappy about concerns disharmony in the dressing room. If I’m a manager reading that story, then I’m not happy about it. But quite honestly, it’s a statement of the absolutely obvious. Of course there’s going to be unhappiness in that United dressing room with the way they’re playing. If there’s not, then United really do have something to worry about.

Manchester United will regret banning media organisations from Old Trafford – and it is obvious there is discontent in the dressing room

Sin bins far away 

I’m all for the idea of 10-minute sin bins for cynical fouls and dissent, which the game’s authorities are now discussing, but like so many of the new ideas they seem to have, it does raise as many questions as answers. 

Many controversies happen towards the end of games — so how does this new system work for Erling Haaland when he’s in the referee’s face and screaming, with two or three minutes to go against Spurs? Do the culprits start the next game with an eight-minute absence? 

There’s a lot of detail to be ironed out. 

There is detail to be ironed out when it comes to sin bins in football – what happens to calls at the end of games?

De Gea right for Newcastle

I think Newcastle’s move to sign David de Gea on a free as cover for Nick Pope is a very good idea. I’d go so far as to say that Pope might have his work cut out getting his place back when he’s recovered from his shoulder injury.

I signed Brad Friedel on a free twice — at Galatasaray and at Blackburn. He was my best free signing. But unlike De Gea, Brad had not been out of the game. 

For De Gea, the first few games could be difficult, as goalkeepers need games to get them up to speed. If you asked me, ‘De Gea or Pope?’ I would say, ‘De Gea, once he gets up to speed’. He’s the better all-round keeper.

Thumbs up for Dyer

It was so good to read in these pages of my former player Kieron Dyer receiving a liver transplant which has helped him recover from illness after some very tough times. 

Kieron was a very good player for me at Newcastle. Someone I enjoyed working with, who was full of mischief and a top player. It’s so good to hear that he’s on the road to recovery. I wish him well. 

David de Gea could be a great signing for Newcastle United and could oust Nick Pope as No 1

It is great to hear that my former player Kieron Dyer (centre) has received a liver transplant

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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