The stats behind Trent Alexander-Arnold’s disappointing start to the season

This article compares his stats from his first 10 league games with his first 10 from last season, to see his comparatively huge drop in form.

With the world cup fast approaching, Trent needs to improve his game and quickly. 

 
A trailblazing start in 2021-22

As a collective, Liverpool had a much better start to the last campaign than they have this season. After 10 matches, the Reds were second in the table, three points behind league leaders Chelsea and two points ahead of Manchester City. 

Trent Alexander Arnold was key to Liverpool’s early success after a fantastic start to the season. After his first 10 appearances, he was considered one of the best full-backs in the world, capable of assists which could only be described as genius. His ability to play effective long balls from anywhere on the pitch and inch-perfect crosses from wide areas was shining through. 

After 10 games, Trent averaged 2.8 key passes and 2.6 successful crosses per match, making him the most creative full-back in the Premier League. The Liverpool man was rivalled only by Chelsea right-back Reece James, who had scored more goals but made fewer assists. In total, Alexander-Arnold chalked up 6 assists by his tenth game, the most in the division at that point. 

Trent had only scored one goal so far, a stunning free-kick against West Ham United, but it’s fair to say that he was a constant goal threat: after 10 games last season, Alexander-Arnold was averaging 1.6 shots on target for Liverpool, which was again the highest rate for any full-back except Reece James. With goals and assists combined, Trent had an average of 0.7 goal contributions per game this time last season, the highest of any full-back in Europe. 

Despite it (ironically) not being what he’s ‘known’ for, defensively, Trent also made a solid start to the 2021-22 season. In his 10 opening games, he helped Liverpool to 6 clean sheets, contributing by averaging 1.3 successful tackles and 1.3 interceptions per match. These are ‘middle of the road’ figures for a right back, but when you combine these with his offensive attributes… he was in incredible form. 

Trent ultimately finished the season with just two league goals, 12 assists – the highest amount of any Premier League player –  and most significantly played a key role in an incredible season for Liverpool which saw them lift the League Cup, the FA Cup, reach the Champions League final and miss out on the Premier League title by just one point.  

Trent’s 2021-22 stats after 10 appearances:

Played: 10
Tackles per 90: 1.3
Interceptions per 90: 1.3
Pass accuracy: 78.1%
Key passes per 90: 2.8
Crosses per 90: 2.6
Shots per 90: 1.6
Assists: 6
Goals: 1
Goal contributions per game: 0.7
Clean sheets: 6

2022-23: Has Trent lost his creativity? 

Roll on to this season, and Trent Alexander Arnold (barring a couple of flashes) has looked nothing like the player we know he is capable of being. 

Defensively, his performances have been nothing short of a shambles. Just one quick google of the highlights of Liverpool’s recent 3-2 defeat to Arsenal will show that he is arguably at fault for all three of the Gunners’ goals. Perhaps the most worrying thing for Liverpool fans though is that it’s the basics that Trent is getting wrong: His positioning has been shoddy, and he doesn’t seem to have the awareness or energy to do the wing-back role that has become his trademark. 

So far, he has averaged just 1 successful tackle and 1 interception per game, a decrease of 0.3 on both statistics from this time last season. Given his drop in form, it’s unsurprising that Liverpool have already conceded three goals more than this time last season and find themselves six points worse off, which when you’re chasing the title, is a lot. 

However, the starkest difference in his stats is in terms of his greatest attribute: creativity. This season, Trent has averaged 1.8 key passes per game, in comparison to 2.8 this time last season. He is also making only 2.2 successful crosses per match, a drop of 0.4. While these figures may not sound too bad, it displays an obvious downward trend in his performances. Most significantly though, Alexander-Arnold is yet to register a single Premier League assist for Liverpool, compared to having six by this point last season. 

What does this mean for Liverpool? Quite simply: a lot fewer goals. Last season, the Reds scored more goals than they ever have before in the Premier League and still weren’t able to beat Manchester City to the title. Without Alexander-Arnold’s goal contributions, they simply would have been nowhere near Pep Guardiola’s side. If the Reds want to bridge the current nine-point gap between them and the top of the table, Trent needs to get back to his best and quickly. 

Trent's 2022-23 stats so far: 

Played: 10
Tackles per 90: 1
Interceptions per 90: 1
Pass accuracy: 75.9%
Key passes per 90: 1.8
Crosses per 90: 2.2
Shots per 90: 1.2
Assists: 0
Goals: 1
Goal contributions per game: 0.1
Clean sheets: 4