Kyle Walker praises Liverpool star who’s ‘improved massively’

Kyle Walker has heaped praise on Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold, insisting that the right-back has ‘improved massively’.

Alexander-Arnold has been one of the standout players in the Premier League since breaking into the Liverpool first-team back in 2016, earning a PFA Young Player of the Year award and three PFA Team of the Year nods in that time.

While well known as a fantastic offensive player, Alexander-Arnold has regularly been called out for his seemingly below-par performances on the defensive side of the ball.

Speaking to Rio Ferdinand on the FIVE podcast, fellow full-back Walker was keen to praise his England teammate’s improvements as a defender.

“Trent is a quarterback at right-back. I’ve never seen anyone pass the ball like it. Left, right foot, snow on it when it needs to have snow on it, or ping straight to the chest,” Walker said.

“The way Liverpool play where it’s very transitional, German manager, it’s a process to get up to the goal [for us], but Liverpool are very direct with their football. I’m not saying it’s a long ball team. But when you’ve got Salah on the right-hand side and you’re whipping that ball down his right-hand side, that’s what Trent’s very, very good at.

“I think people come at him for defending. But people can come at me for my crossing. Let’s just say that. I don’t think anyone’s going to really have the finished article. I think he’s improved massively on his defending, I think it comes with age as well.”

Alexander-Arnold is currently out injured after suffering a recurrence of a knee issue during Liverpool’s recent 3-1 win over Burnley at Turf Moor. The right-back is expected to return for the Reds’ crunch clash with rivals Manchester United at the start of April.