As things stand, Trent Alexander-Arnold is more out of Liverpool than he is in. His contract, barring a renewal, expires at the end of the season, and no signs of affirmation from Merseyside stand in immediate sight.
At Real Madrid, the right-back position need quick filling. Though Dani Carvajal has been offered a contract extension until 2026, the full-back has to contend with injuries and is on the verge of stepping down at the age of 32. Lucas Vazquez, his backup, is also more likely to retire as he nears the age of 33.
At the same time, Real Madrid is apparently infatuated with Trent Alexander-Arnold and is constantly watching his situation. They regard him as the missing piece in a Galactico jigsaw designed to achieve long-term European domination.
But between all the hearsay and reporting, voices from Real Madrid fandom have begun speaking of Arnold's so-called defensive lacunas. It is a general consensus amongst football fans that Trent's excellence at offense shadows a greater part of his abilities at defending the ball. That he is always seen up the flank but hardly keeps the opposing offense at bay.
With the continuous defensive issues, the voices argue if Trent will contribute anything better at the back, or if it is even worth it to bring him on.
However, there is a silver lining: all of the speculation may not be totally true. Trent Alexander-Arnold may be the next big thing, and he may be everything Real Madrid requires to complete the defensive four in the long run.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will offer Real Madrid with what they've really been wanting
Understand that Trent gives Liverpool remarkable widening on the sides. His menace on the flanks would complement Real Madrid's fast-paced wingers. The concept of this combination instantly brings to mind Real Madrid's breadth and pace on the wings, as well as the skill of Marcelo and Carvajal on the flanks, with dynamic wingers on the rise to complement the advances.
His crosses are determined, sharp, and nearly always precise. He is a master at his craft. And this talent comes naturally considering that he grew up playing center midfield.
Trent appears to be a natural fit for Real Madrid's offensive move. There's enough knowledge and hype about it. But then there is the defense. Will he be as good? Or let me rephrase it, is he as good? Let's look at his profile.
Understand that Trent is not an outstanding or extraordinary defender, but he is not as bad as his reputation suggests. His way, or should I say style, of defending differs from typical defense techniques. And, under Arne Slot, his profile has consistently evolved, and he is increasingly relied on for defensive contributions rather than creative innovation.
Look at a comparative picture of his heatmap (from SofaScore) over the past few seasons:
The number 66 has definitely transitioned into a new role and has taken a step back to improve his defensive skills while keeping his offensive on par, if not better. He has changed his position, retreating from a center role to one that is more on the sides. The depth of the colour demonstrates that there is practically no difference between his presence in the back and the front.
According to FBREF, the player has attempted a total of 64 tackles this season and won 44 of them achieving a 68% success rate. He has also blocked 8 shots and 17 passes at the back. He also boasts of 118 recoveries and 10 possessions won in the final third as per Fotmob. His statistics for the amount of times he's been dribbled past have also improved when compared to prior seasons.
The numbers, of course, have room for betterment but in no way do they suggest of an absolute disasterous defending performance. His critical views should be considered in light of Liverpool's high line and the natural lack of such a system, which leads defenders to be caught off guard more frequently than is typical. Regardless, Real Madrid does not follow the model. It is more balanced and movement-focused than forceful forward drives.
Another issue is Liverpool's lack of adequate defensive protection in the middle due to the same reason. Again, Real Madrid does not work in that manner. Defensive security from the midfield has been an essential component of Ancelotti's tactical plan, and Trent's placement will benefit greatly from it. It might as well give him more leeway to move forward.
Trent is great, but there's definitely room for improvement
The Englishman is not poor at the principles of defense, but just one. Trent is constantly caught ball-watching and is mainly ignorant of the player's movements whenever he is dribbled past or completely beaten. He is sloppy at tracing back and is quickly beaten to false moves.
Furthermore, he struggles to retain composure and shape his body to confront an impending attack, which is another weakness in his defensive abilities.
Trent is a multifaceted player, and it is critical to recognize this. He scores, creates scoring opportunities, and defends. The last section has some chaos here and there, but it is useless and inadequate in depicting a full and utter failure at the act. The criticism against him continues to be based on inconsistent analysis and the incapacity of bystanders to comprehend his ever-changing function.
Trent has already improved his defense under Arne Slot, contradicting many of his poor results from previous season. Who knows, under Ancelotti, he may become a power at the back that the world has never seen him before?