Agbonlahor lambasts Trent Alexander-Arnold as Liverpool footage analysed
Trent Alexander-Arnold has to remember his “bread and butter” for Liverpool is defender and not attacking, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker delivered his verdict after Alexander-Arnold was caught out during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Fulham on Saturday (6 August).
Alexsander Mitrovic opened the scoring at Craven Cottage when he climbed over the 23-year-old to nod in a header at the back post.
Alexander-Arnold’s defensive qualities have been questioned ever since his emergence at Anfield.
In the 1-0 loss to Real Madrid in last season’s Champions League final, he was also caught out when Vincius Jr scored at the back post after a mishit shot from Federico Valverde.
“There’s got to be a bit of blame [on Alexander-Arnold],” Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Sometimes full-backs nowadays forget that firstly, they are defenders. You’ve seen it with a lot of full-backs recently in the past couple of seasons, they get done at the back post when they shouldn’t be.
“Yes Mitrovic is very good in the air, but if Trent Alexander-Arnold jumped, he’s in front of it and stops it. It’s poor defending and that’s the difference between winning and drawing a game.
“He’s got to do better. As good as he is going forward, you’re bread and butter is defending.”
Alexander-Arnold has scored 13 times and provided 62 assists in 228 games across all competitions for Liverpool.
The England international is under contract at Anfield until the summer of 2025.
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