BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks has praised the contributions of Liverpool’s two full backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson against Watford on Saturday.
The duo were involved throughout at Vicarage Road, with Alexander-Arnold thundering home a beautiful free kick to put Jurgen Klopp’s side two goals up.
Crooks was seriously impressed with the right back: “You’ve got Mohamed Salah, Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino, all of whom are superb from a dead ball position,” he wrote on the BBC Sport website. “Yet the most inexperienced lad on the pitch stepped up, assessed the situation like a veteran and proceeded to leave Ben Foster in the Watford goal rooted to the spot and staring at the ball as it flew past him. Absolutely brilliant.”
He also had kind words for Robertson: “The full-back went on to cause Watford all kinds of problems going forward. It was Robertson’s tenacity and eventual cross that finally killed the Hornets off completely. With Alexander-Arnold on one side and Robertson on the other, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen two such impressive young full-backs in the same team.”
OPINION
Crooks is absolutely spot on, here. Klopp has managed to develop two fantastic young full backs on either side of the pitch, who are both as adept offensively as they are defensively. Alexander-Arnold, in particular, demonstrated that fact with a phenomenal attacking performance against Javi Gracia’s side. His free kick was superb but it was his overall play that most impressed. Watford couldn’t cope with either man and when both players are on form it’s very difficult to stop this Liverpool side. It’s such a boon for the Reds to have two excellent full backs who add so much going forward. They stretch the play and provide a constant out ball on either flank. Robertson’s crossing, in particular, is terrific and that was shown once again at Vicarage Road. Watford are a very decent team, so for Liverpool to brush them aside in the manner they did was very encouraging, and the two full backs had a lot to do with that.
