Former Scotland full-back Alan Hutton has jumped to the defence of Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold after criticism of his recent performances.
Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton claimed the young right-back – who has enjoyed an exponential rise in his short career to date – must be cut some slack after his performances have dipped owing to his previous ‘outrageous’ form. The ex-Tottenham defender said:
”The problem here is his standards are so high, I think that’s really what it comes down to.
I mean we’re talking about a player whose assists are outrageous, he’s been backed by everyone to be one of the best right-backs in the world and when you’re in that bracket as soon as it slips a little, people are one you.”
Alexander-Arnold has been lambasted this week following his out-of-sorts display against Southampton, during which the 22-year-old gave the ball away 38 times – a Premier League high this season.
However, Hutton described the defender’s struggles as merely a ‘dip’, perhaps caused by his injury layoff earlier this season before admitting: ”I’ve probably given the ball away 38 times in a game anyway, we’ve all done it!”
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It’s easy to forget sometimes just how young Alexander-Arnold still is. Having already won nearly everything there is to win in club football and playing a major part in all that success, the 22-year-old has rarely shown even a momentary drop in standards after the very early days when he was still cutting his teeth in the first team.
Kopites everywhere will certainly be hoping the current blip is a short-term struggle, as Jurgen Klopp’s side have lost a major attacking edge down the right this season so far without their assist king at peak form.
