Alexander-Arnold's Anfield return only highlights what Liverpool are missing

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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player FREE TO WATCH: Highlights of the Premier League match between Liverpool and Aston Villa Madrid's arrival on Merseyside for a rematch with Liverpool, who convincingly beat Carlo Ancelotti's team 2-0 at Anfield last November, now has added spice with Alexander-Arnold back from injury and competing with midfielder Federico Valverde to start against his boyhood club after Carvajal underwent an arthroscopy on his right knee that is likely to sideline the Spain international for the rest of the year."Mixed emotions, whatever way I'm received is the decision of the fans," he said about his return home.Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from this seasonGot Sky? Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher gives his reaction to Trent Alexander-Arnold confirming he'll be leaving the club at the end of the season "If he [Slot] keeps playing Bradley at right back and they are exposed in midfield, they will keep on getting the same results."When in possession at Liverpool Alexander-Arnold would be utilised as an inverted midfielder by Jurgen Klopp, who wanted to make greater use of the player's unique passing range.

Record-breaking Trent Alexander-Arnold was at 23, the youngest player to start three Champions League finals Neither Bradley nor summer signing Jeremie Frimpong have such skills, which may explain why Slot has often chosen to play versatile midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai as a makeshift right back instead, with Liverpool finding it hard in Alexander-Arnold's absence to progress the ball up the field during their recent struggles.All of which has had a knock-on effect on other areas of the team, especially in attack where Salah's form has alarmingly dipped this season in the absence of his old mate on the right wing, with his recent consolation strike at Brentford the forward's first open-play goal in the top flight since the first day of the campaign. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Paul Merson breaks down Arne Slot's issues at Liverpool, hinting that Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving might be the root cause "Slot has not paid attention to just how much they will miss Alexander-Arnold," Sky Sports' Paul Merson told Soccer Saturday."They underestimated Trent leaving, you are talking one of the best passers in the Premier League and when he plays at right back, now all of a sudden they are doubling up on Salah, who does not look like kicking the ball."Sky Sports' Nick Wright expanded more in his 'Radar' column, writing: "The strength of their connection on Liverpool's right was arguably the side's biggest asset, not just because of the volume of passes received by Salah from Alexander-Arnold, but the type.

Alexander-Arnold made 147 of them to Salah last season, a whopping 36 per cent more than any other Premier League pairing, with Josko Gvardiol to Jeremy Doku next on 108."Alexander-Arnold's defensive frailties tended to draw more focus but he was, and still is, a unicorn of a right back in his ability to break structures and bypass defenders with his distribution, ensuring Salah regularly received the ball in positions to hurt opponents." And even Slot admitted Sala's recent slump may have something to do with Alexander-Arnold's absence."He played with Trent his whole Liverpool career, so it could [be that]," Slot said when asked about Salah's drop in form. He admitted it was a hard decision but says he needs a fresh challenge for his career However, it is not just the goals [23 in total in 354 games], or the assists [92 in all competitions, including a record-breaking 67 by a defender in the Premier League era] that Slot and Co are so badly missing this season, but also the local boy's influence in the dressing room, especially in the aftermath of Diogo Jota's tragic death.All of which makes the indifferent reaction to Alexander-Arnold's decision not to stay at Anfield all the more baffling, with the prevailing view of many Liverpool fans at the time being had they to lose one of their contract rebels, let it be the right back rather than Salah or captain Virgil van Dijk.