Agbonlahor slams Trent Alexander-Arnold after he’s spotted at Liverpool
Gabriel Agbonlahor has claimed Trent Alexander-Arnold negates his defensive responsibilities at Liverpool.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Aston Villa striker said Alexander-Arnold, 23, has got to do a “lot more work” to improve his defending.
Jurgen Klopp’s side lost 2-1 to Man United on Monday (22 August).
Both of United’s goals came down Liverpool’s right-hand side.
Agbonlahor suggested the right-back’s weakness in defence is the reason he won’t start for the England team.
“I think Jurgen Klopp will understand that Trent Alexander-Arnold is not going to be a great defender,” he told Football Insider.
“He’s outstanding going forward but he’s not a top defender. You can’t really coach him to be a top defender. He hasn’t got the pace, the physicality, the awareness. Even for the first goal [against Man United] he just jogs back and it’s too easy to get past him.
“He’s got to do a lot more work on defending. This is the reason why he doesn’t start for England, teams and players will target him. If you’re going to leave Trent one on one with a tricky, quick winger, he’s going to get rinsed every time and that’s the risk that Klopp has.
“He knows that Trent is great going forward and not great defensively and teams are going to keep targeting that side. It just shows that the new era of full-backs are more concerned with goals and assists than what they’re really paid for which is defending.“
In other news, Liverpool may have a ‘problem’ with Roberto Firmino after what expert has spotted.