I bet Klopp my salary that if Liverpool played Trent in midfield, it would work.
Pep Lijnders implemented a significant tactical shift in Liverpool’s setup. Trent Alexander-Arnold, known for his exceptional passing ability, had already enjoyed a successful career, winning both the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool by the age of 22. By 25, he had amassed over 300 appearances for the club and set the assist record for defenders in England, with 58 in the top flight. However, despite his offensive prowess, some critics viewed him primarily as an attacking full-back, highlighting perceived defensive weaknesses, possibly stemming from his midfield background in Liverpool’s academy.
Amidst criticisms of Liverpool’s midfield and concerns about Alexander-Arnold’s defensive capabilities, Lijnders, Jurgen Klopp’s assistant, proposed a solution: moving Alexander-Arnold into midfield. Klopp embraced the idea, and Liverpool experienced success in their final Premier League games of the 2022/23 season, winning seven out of nine.
In an interview with Redmen TV, Lijnders disclosed that the idea originated from him, emphasizing the need for an additional player in midfield, specifically Alexander-Arnold. He was so confident in the switch’s effectiveness that he offered Klopp his entire salary if it failed to deliver results.
During Klopp’s prime years at Liverpool, the team became synonymous with an aggressive, pressing style of play. Klopp typically deployed three hardworking midfielders, relying on moments of creativity from broken play and the dynamic runs of his full-backs. The wingers were instructed to make diagonal movements to support the striker, who often dropped deep to initiate attacks.
Roberto Firmino served as the crucial false nine in this system, enabling its success. His ability to drift into midfield created numerical advantages and space for players like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane to exploit. However, with Firmino’s departure at the end of the previous season, Klopp sought an alternative solution.
According to Lijnders in an interview with Redmen TV, Firmino’s role as the extra player in midfield was pivotal in controlling games. With Firmino’s absence, the question arose: who would fill this crucial role?
While Cody Gakpo could occasionally step into this position, Liverpool needed a consistent solution to create midfield overloads when Gakpo didn’t start up front. Given Lijnders’ previous experience coaching Alexander-Arnold in the under-16s, he proposed the idea of utilizing the full-back in more central areas.