Gary Lineker has backed Jamie Redknapp’s claim that Liverpool are “missing” Trent Alexander-Arnold this season.
The Reds sold the right-back to Real Madrid at the start of the summer transfer window, bringing an end to months of intense speculation over his future.
Alexander-Arnold had been set to leave on a free transfer next year, but Liverpool reached an agreement with Real for an early move, allowing him to join in time for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Liverpool moved quickly to replace him, signing Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, while Conor Bradley also remains an option at right-back.
However, Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, their third consecutive loss in all competitions, highlighted the impact of Alexander-Arnold’s absence.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said he believes Liverpool are struggling without the attacking influence their former vice-captain provided from right-back.
“In terms of creativity, as much as anything else, I think they’re really missing Trent [Alexander-Arnold],” said Lineker.
“Before that, sometimes Trent would go forward and they would, perhaps, get exposed defensively. But what he gives you going the other way, it’s impossible to replace.
“There is not another player I can think of in world football who plays that position [right-back] in the way that he plays it offensively.
“I also think that Mo [Salah] is missing him, that connection that they had.
“Yes, sometimes they would get exposed in behind, but they would have someone try and cover that position – last season it was mostly [Dominik] Szoboszlai, previous to that would be Jordan Henderson.
“You’ve got to say it was worth his weight in gold going forward, and I always used to say, ‘Stop worrying about him [Alexander-Arnold] making the odd tiny mistake defensively, because what he gives you the other way is incredible.”
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