Young Liverpool full back Trent Alexander-Arnold was the standout performer as Liverpool dropped points in their goalless draw with West Brom, where the 19-year-old was impressive going forward and defensively despite a lack of game time in recent weeks.
Alexander-Arnold began the game on the right hand side of a four man defence consisting of Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan and Andy Robertson, and was continuously on hand to receive the ball from Loris Karius – yet another change from manager Jurgen Klopp – before looking to kick start countless attacks for the Reds.
His deliveries into the West Brom area were threatening all evening, yet the Liverpool forwards simply couldn’t find the back of the net despite 71% possession and a total of 14 shots. One dangerous cross in particular somehow evaded the onrushing Mohamed Salah, while Alexander-Arnold’s defensive efforts didn’t go unnoticed as the away side threatened on the break.
Liverpool’s often unstable defence remain in the shadows of an often frightening front line, yet on a night where the likes of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Salah were simply ineffective, Alexander-Arnold stood tall and shone brightest and his efforts were hugely appreciated by the home crowd as he was replaced by Joe Gomez with ten minutes to go. The defence certainly carried out their duties, yet with the forwards drawing a blank, the 0-0 draw was only the fifth time that the Reds have failed to score in a league game at Anfield under Klopp.
However, Liverpool have now drawn five of their last home games in the Premier League, and Klopp blamed a lack of dynamism for yet another disappointing Anfield display:
“First half we were a little bit stiff, the passing and movement was not so good but even then we had two or three chances. The second half we changed the system two or three times.
“We can do better and we have to do better but on a night like this when you are not at your best you need a bit of luck.”
The Reds face a trip to Bournemouth this coming weekend, before another away day at Arsenal on the 22nd December, and Alexander-Arnold will more than likely have an equally imperative role to play in either one or both of these fixtures as Klopp will switch his team up yet again in order to keep his squad fresh throughout the daunting festive period of football.
