'That connection': Gary Lineker names the one Liverpool player who is missing Trent Alexander-Arnold the most

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Liverpool have really struggled to create since Trent Alexander-Arnold departed for Real Madrid.The Reds have not had an ideal start to the season as despite sitting second in the Premier League table, performances have been poor.As well as this, the fact they have lost their last three games in all competitions shows how their form has taken a significant downturn, with this happening for the first time under Arne Slot.As well as being shaky defensively, Liverpool have struggled to create as many chances as they did in previous seasons, something they never had a problem with due to the presence of Alexander-Arnold.However, life after the scouser is proving difficult and Gary Lineker believes that it is impacting one player in particular most. Photo by Robin Jones/Getty ImagesMohamed Salah is not the same player without Trent Alexander-ArnoldNo matter how bitter Liverpool fans may still be, there is no denying that Alexander-Arnold is one of the best passers of the ball in the world.Despite playing at right-back, he was able to create a plethora of goalscoring opportunities for attackers and could split open a defence with one pass.Mohamed Salah is just one player who benefited from having him in the team, with the pair having a very good understanding and connection down the right-hand side of the pitch.Now ‘Trent’ has moved on, though, the Egyptian seems to be struggling a lot in his absence, with Lineker believing that this is the reason for the Reds downturn in results.

“I think also in terms of creativity as much as anything else. I think they are really missing Trent,” he said on The Rest Is Football Podcast.“Before that, Trent would obviously go forward and they might get exposed because of that, people would go on about that, but what he gives you going the other way is impossible to replace.“There is not another player in world football I can think of that plays that position in the way he plays it offensively.READ MORE: Subtle Arne Slot message vs Chelsea suggests ‘vital’ player is no longer wanted at Liverpool“I also think Mo is missing him.

That connection they had, yes sometimes they would get exposed down that side but they would have someone to cover, last season it was mostly Szoboszlai, before that it would be Jordan Henderson, because they know.“I always said he is worth the weight in gold going forward and I always just thought ‘stop worrying about the tiny mistakes he makes defensively,’ because what he gives you going the other way is incredible.”Liverpool’s options are very different to Trent Alexander-ArnoldAs Lineker mentioned, Alexander-Arnold is one-of-a-kind and almost irreplaceable, with the Reds’ current options very different to what they had before.With the Englishman, Liverpool, specifically Salah, had a player to pass the ball back to who could put in a wicked cross, but he could also overlap to offer something else.As for Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley, they can only really offer the latter, with their plan being to get to the byline and cut the ball back into the box.This means attacks are very one dimensional and predictable, hence why Liverpool are not creating as many opportunities. By no means is this a plea for Alexander-Arnold to return, but it definitely shows that he is perhaps a bigger loss than many realised at the time.