OPINION
Paul Ince was asked to pick a combined Liverpool-Manchester City XI alongside Michael Owen and Chris Sutton ahead of the two juggernauts colliding at Anfield on Sunday.
Robbie Savage went through each area of the team asking for all three to vote on the Man City players who should be in the combined XI and Ince would have surely raced eyebrows by revealing which defender he wanted to make the cut.
The Reds midfielder claimed Kyle Walker should get in BT’s combined XI ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold as the 29-year-old is a better full-back on his day.
“Walker, right-back,” said Ince on BT Sport Early Kick-Off (BT Sport 1, 10:12, Saturday, November 9th).
“I just think one, he can cover the defensive bit, he is a better defender than Trent, when Trent goes forward he is very good with his crosses, it’s a close one.
“But I think Walker on his day is the better full-back.”
Ince tried to argue that Alexander-Arnold may be good going forward but that the Man City player is simply the better defender.
Now Alexander-Arnold is a fan favourite having risen through the Reds’ youth ranks to make 100 appearances for the first-team, but it won’t be only Reds fans raising the eyebrows at Ince’s remarks, most football fans will as the stats don’t support him.
Ince seems to rate Walker higher than Alexander-Arnold due to what he offers defensively, but when comparing how both have fared at the back this season in their Premier League outings on WhoScored, there’s a clear winner and it’s not the Man City man.
Alexander-Arnold has averaged fewer fouls, averaged more tackles, clearances and interceptions, and has even managed to block more shots than his more experienced compatriot.
The only category Walker comes out on top in, is that he has been dribbled past less.
This is impressive, but would you not say the better defender is the one who comes out the top in 99% of the categories?
Also when you once again consider the attacking strengths in both games, Alexander-Arnold has the edge again as he has racked up one more assist than Walker so far.
While Ince’s remarks will cause a stir, the good news to take from this is that Owen and Sutton outvoted Ince and it was indeed Alexander-Arnold made BT’s Reds-Manchester City combined XI.
