Trent Alexander-Arnold loses the ball quite a bit

Trent Alexander Arnold obtained the ball in his customary right-back place.

He regarded up, and proceeded to smash the ball straight out of play. There have been 9 seconds on the clock at St Mary’s.

A lot has been manufactured from TAA’s efficiency in opposition to Southampton on Monday. He has simply 61% go completion on 72 passes. He ‘misplaced the ball’ 15 instances, probably the most of any match by which he is performed this season (dropping the ball on this case referring to a direct tried go to a team-mate that failed to succeed in its goal, somewhat than a extra generic lengthy ball or cross).

And it is raised the problem of dropping possession and what it actually means. Shedding possession in of itself shouldn’t be a foul factor. Among the most artistic gamers within the sport lose the ball quite a bit as a result of they’re making an attempt to create alternatives and check out issues different team-mates do not.

The above graph exhibits misplaced balls versus anticipated assists for the 2019/20 season. You’ll be able to see Kevin De Bruyne driving excessive on the prime right here, scoring an enormous anticipated assists rating, however whereas usually giving the ball away. De Bruyne whips the ball in from troublesome positions and usually tries to string the needle along with his passes.

And you’ll see Trent right here, dropping the ball as a lot as De Bruyne however nonetheless recording a really wholesome 0.44xA P90.

After we take a look at 20/21, there’s a number of extra fascinating names on the listing, too:

Jack Grealish, James Rodriguez, Bruno Fernandes. Gamers we love to look at, being allowed to do what they do by way of making issues occur. And regardless of the stressing over Trent’s performances this season he’s nonetheless positioned above common within the Premier League. Not so good as final season, however by no means dangerous both.

However there is not any doubt that Trent’s performances have suffered drop-off this season in comparison with his personal excessive commonplace and it appeared just like the Southampton sport was the crystallisation of that. All the pieces he did was flawed, and of his 15 misplaced balls 5 had been inside his personal half, subsequently giving the opponent a excessive turnover.

Jurgen Klopp clearly misplaced endurance with him within the second and took him off after 77 minutes. He wasn’t blissful, however neither was Klopp. And the best way these numbers have fallen would not make for good studying. Assists P90 right down to 0.13 from 0.43 and likelihood creation dropping off a cliff when in comparison with final 12 months.

Those that have watched Liverpool can relate not solely to the accidents which have disrupted just about all of their patterns of play, but additionally that the default of knocking it to TAA for a cross is not taking place to the identical diploma. Certainly, his 10.7 crosses P90 from final season is now 7.3, fairly a drop-off. They’re altering issues up a bit extra and so Trent’s direct contributions are more likely to be much less.

However the Southampton sport shall be little doubt a priority. His puzzled expression and Klopp’s resigned face present there may be some work to be finished to get the defender – undoubtedly probably the greatest offensive full-backs on this planet – again to the place he must be.