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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
John Aldridge

Trent Alexander-Arnold can break Premier League record but needs help of Liverpool team-mates

Trent Alexander-Arnold claimed his tenth Premier League assist of the season at the weekend and has set up more goals than any other player in the division.

The record number of assists in a single Premier League campaign is 20 (Thierry Henry 2002/03 and Kevin De Bruyne 2019/20), so he is halfway there as it stands. I think he could get to that mark, why not? It all depends on if the forwards can convert the chances.

Mane and Jota will get in the box, but one of Firmino’s downsides is that he is always too deep and never gives himself the opportunity to attack when the ball comes into the area.

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The balls Trent puts in the box are ridiculous at times, but sometimes the forwards let him down by not moving into the space. Jota gets in there more than anyone to attack the balls into the box. As a striker, you have to make those runs. The quality is that good, whether it's Trent or Robbo, you will always get opportunities.

I'm still confused by Gareth Southgate's tendency to leave Liverpool out for England.

It looks like he prefers Reece James of Chelsea. People sometimes say James is better defensively than Trent, but I would always go for Trent. It’s about the opinions of the manager and, from a selfish point of view, I would rather Alexander-Arnold didn't play to keep him ripe for Liverpool. I’m sure he wants to play in those big tournament matches, however.

The argument often raised by rival supporters is that Trent is not the best from a defensive point of view. He has worked on this side of his game and is nowhere near as open as he was a couple of years ago. He is getting wiser each year.

Rafa was always facing uphill battle at Everton

When Benitez wakes up and has a hefty pay-off in his bank account, I think he won’t feel too bad about his situation.

It was always going to be hard for him to fit.

He has brought in a few players himself, who will now become another manager’s potential deadwood. It’s going to be tough at Everton because they have had no solidity whatsoever - chopping and changing with so many managers is never good for any football club.

You need a solid base, like Liverpool have had with Klopp. So many managers have come and gone at Everton now, you look at all the players and it’s a right mix from various coaches.

They will have to try and keep their next manager for at least a few years, for the sake of continuity.

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