Clean sheet for Liverpool vs. Man City w/ Trent Alexander-Arnold starting on the bench: Coincidence?

ESPN FC reacts to Liverpool's 1-0 win vs. Manchester City.

[Baldinosalvador]

Trent is playing in the wrong era. He’s like a winger in a traditional 4-4-2. I think that in that system he could give you what Beckham gave you. In a 4-3-3 he would have to score more goals and he hasn’t proven to be prolific... but hey, you never know, Gareth Bale was once a left back.

[spannerman]

Bit unfair to slag Trent off, when the game against City was using different tactics and had more support in defence from the midfielders. Liverpool we’re more deeper and went for the counter attack. I don’t remember Milner going past the half way line.

[Derekstefan]

This game last season. Milner played at RB and guess what. He got smoked by Foden. Seems like everyone has forgotten that.

[JR-sjjz]

Talk about kicking a guy when he is down. How about a debate on why Pep didn't play the £100m Grealish which has happened on a couple of occasions now. As for Milner, he was brought on at RB against Everton and immediately started conceding chances. It was so bad Klopp had to bring on Matip, shift Gomez to RB and Milner into midfield.

So credit to Milner doing a shift today but the formation and tactics played by Liverpool on Sunday are very different from what they have done in previous weeks. Recent history also suggests that the more games Milner starts, the more he struggles with form and staying fit. Because of that, whether we like it or not, Trent will inevitably start. If he does and the team keeps a clean sheet, I hope you keep the same energy.

[DomH]

A reminder that Liverpool have won every single trophy possible with TAA at right back. Defensive frailties come from Henderson losing pace since his groin injury in 2021 and Thiago being too slow to cover defensively like Wijnaldum used to. If Elliot can get up to pace playing in the midfield and pick up the role Henderson played from 2017-2021 then you'll see Liverpool's right side get back the level they were on defensively in the 19/20 season. It's impossible for any rb to do well defensively in klopps system without midfield cover.

[lendldaniels]

It's not a mistake by Cancelo, it was the strength of Salah

[mr.h]

Mistake… mistake … mistake. It was masterclass from Salah

[benmaves]

cancelo cost his team the game and they're on about how bad Trent is who didn't even play. the agenda is crazy

[pepguardiola]

Trent needs to play further up the field on the right and Salah striker. When you give freedom to Salah, he will destroy any defence, instead of playing him as RWB and having Trent too forward.

[mmsmith]

If that's a mistake then we can all look back at every goal scored because of the mistake of someone

[justinboyd]

Love Trent but it's no coincidence. Put him in midfield please.

[dannygavin]

This has to be the most un-nuanced conversation I’ve seen in a long time. There is not real tactical analysis—just got takes. I’m done ESPN. I don’t even have a horse I this race, but, Jesus, can you guys actually talk about what happened on the pitch and not how you feel? All feelings are real, but they are not all true.

[andybown]

Give Salah the credit he deserves. Not many players could do that, so why focus on the ‘mistake’?

[cheeseshit]

Ofcourse hes not gonna mention alisson becker having more g/a than the £100m jackie G

[kabelomaragelo]

Guys we’ve heard enough about this man

[JT]

One right back commits an error that decides the whole game but the major talking point is still TAA. Y'all are obsessed and it's sick to watch

[duwa_dads]

He didnt play because he just came back from injury

[dontsalahsalah]

How about Gomez at right back until Ramsays fully fit, and play Trent in the Elliott role, whether that's on the right of a four man midfield or a the right of a 3 or even now that Salah's moved to the centre putting Trent as one of 3 attackers like how Elliott played on Sunday on the right. At least that way he could concentrate more his game and not worry so much about having the responsibility of defending.

[bodidiikinda]

Cancelo didn’t make a mistake really he got skinned I feel that’s unfair on Salah

[niksterfersir]

I genuinely think Trent just doesn't want to play rb, he prolly enjoy playing rm. But his enthusiasm is just very low and he makes alot of mistakes ans doesn't really care to get back to fix them. But when you're on those wages playing for a top club in the top league...I'm just he just isn't speaking up.