Gary Neville and Roy Keane have had a bit of a disagreement over one Liverpool player.
The two pundits often clash in terms of their footballing opinions, and now, their views have been split when discussing Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold is a player who divides opinion at the best of times.
The England international is one of the most naturally gifted players in the country, but, at the same time, he does have some clear defensive deficiencies.
Speaking on Stick to Football, Keane and Neville clashed over Alexander-Arnold and his role in the England team with Keane claiming that he’s too defensively suspect to even play in the midfield, while Neville believes he has enough cover from Kyle Walker and John Stones.
Roy Keane and Gary Nevile disagree over Trent Alexander-Arnold
The two pundits spoke about the Liverpool star.
“In the knockout games if Trent is in there and is asked to do a defensive job for an England team,” Keane said.
“I see it differently to you Roy, the reason being Rice will play here, and Trent will play here, and Kyle Walker will be in that channel, he should have the cover behind him with Stones and Walker there,” Neville added.
“That’s fine, that’s your opinion, I disagree with it. I think defensively, I don’t mind someone who is not bad at defending, but the defensive side of his game, I watch him closely every week, whether he’s at right-back or in midfield, he doesn’t smell danger,” Keane concluded.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is fine defensively
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive issues are massively overblown.
Is the right-back the second-coming of Paolo Maldini? Of course he isn’t, but he’s still able to do a job in a functioning back four.
You don’t win the trophies Alexander-Arnold has won if you’re a bad defender, and the numbers show that he can be absolutely fine at the back.
Liverpool have the third-best defensive record in the Premier League this season, and, for the most part, they usually are up there with the best in terms of defensive stats.
Alexander-Arnold isn’t the best defender of all-time, but to make out as though he’s useless defensively is a huge over-exaggeration.