OPINION
Liverpool are looking pretty ship shape in the defensive department right now, and that is no doubt down to two players in particular.
Joe Gomez may have returned to full training and Virgil Van Dijk may be hailed as one of the best in the Premier League, but the Reds’ full-back have really taken strides this season by showing everyone else how it is done.
Those players are left-back Andy Robertson and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, two players who would not have been really heard of a few seasons ago if Jurgen Klopp had not introduced them into the side.
Robertson has Alberto Moreno to thank for getting injured while Alexander-Arnold has the Academy to thank for their rises in recent times. Former Liverpool full-back, Djimi Traore, has also been blown away by what he is has seen of the two players.
“I think both of the full-backs are fantastic players. They play more offensive than what we used to do back in my era, they are great lads and you can see they enjoy it, they embrace that position and enjoy their football,” he told the club’s website.
“They are part of our attack and it’s fantastic the way Liverpool play. Everybody attacks and everybody also defends. The full-backs contribute a lot to the offensive part of the team and it is a good weapon because when you have that kind of service it’s fantastic for the strikers.”
Traore is absolutely spot on with his verdicts on the duo here. Without them, the likes of Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah would perhaps not be getting as much service as they would like. Without them, perhaps Liverpool would not be scoring as many goals as they have been.
They are no doubt two of the most underrated players at Anfield, as their teammates have been receiving the majority of the plaudits. However, they are two of the most consistent performers at the club, and when they are absent, their lack of presence is really felt on the field.
Traore has really hit the nail on the head here about the impact that these two players bring to the table – and their performances only reinforce that view.
