Van Dijk is the best defender in the world according to Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold can break the record for the most Premier League assists by a defender this weekend. The record is currently held by Alexander-Arnold’s Reds team-mate Andy Robertson, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery.
Jurgen Klopp’s side face an out-of-form Crystal Palace in Saturday’s early kick-off. Alexander-Arnold has been in excellent form, adopting a hybrid position between defence and midfield in Klopp’s revitalised system.
While still seen as a defender, the England international takes up a position further up the pitch when Liverpool are in possession. He has been key to Liverpool’s upturn in form, which sees the Anfield outfit second in the Premier League behind Arsenal.
And Alexander-Arnold can now break colleague Robertson’s record for the most assists by a defender. His delivery to set up Virgil van Dijk’s opening goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Sheffield United on Tuesday was his 56th assist in the Premier League.
Robertson has 57 assists and remains absent having undergone shoulder surgery in October. Alexander-Arnold can break the record by setting up two goals against Palace – a remarkable feat given that he is only 25.
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It could be a tough ask, though, given that the assist against Sheffield United was only his second of the Premier League campaign. Being shifted into midfield in possession appears to have had an impact on his ability to play the final pass in a move.
When he played as a traditional right-back, many of Alexander-Arnold’s assists came from crosses in wide positions. It has raised the question over which position his future lies in. Klopp has grown frustrated over the debate surrounding Alexander-Arnold’s role in his team.
“We play him where we think it’s best for him and then people say ‘he has to play there, play there’,” the Liverpool manager said this week.
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“He became one of the most successful players in the history of Liverpool, in the recent history, playing as a right-back. He will play where it is best for us, that’s just how it is.
“I’m not stubborn and don’t not want to play him in midfield, not at all, but I am not part of the discussion. We still have to make decisions on what is best for the team and Trent sees it exactly the same way.
“He wants to play and from my point of view he has to be influential and we have to make sure we help him with the positioning.”
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