Trent Alexander-Arnold has hit back at his critics who call his defensive ability into question.
The Liverpool full-back has had a tough time of late for the Reds and blamed by some for the goals they have conceded this season, but Brazil legend Cafu is an admirer.
Alexander-Arnold thinks it's a lazy assumption to say he can't defend and thinks critics will see what they want to see
Of the view that he is good going forward but suspect at the back, Alexander-Arnold told talkSPORT: "It's the lazy thing to say. People just watch the game and see what they want to see. There's kind of that prejudice, I believe now. You see what you want to see at the end of the day.
"If you go to watch a game and have a perception that a player is lazy and you see them once not running, then in your mind they're lazy. You see what you want to see, you don't see the rest of the game where they're running around, trying to do their thing.
"I suppose that's where I feel like I'm judged. People go to games or people watch me play football with a preconception of 'he's not a good defender' or 'he can't defend well', so when I do have that one mistake or that one time someone gets past me, then that confirms what they think.
"At times it feels like it doesn't matter how well I do, if I'm not perfect in that respect then it's not good enough. I'm held to standards that potentially other players aren't held to but that's life, you've got to get on with it."
One man who likes what he sees is Cafu, who has compared the 24-year-old to his former teammate Roberto Carlos, something the Liverpool man is honoured to have heard.
"It's high, high praise," he said. "When you think of those two names, you probably think of the two best full-backs in history really. There's a couple others that sneak into that conversation but them two are always in everyone's conversation.
The England star told talkSPORT it was great to hear Cafu likening him to Roberto Carlos
"So, for them words to be spoken is really nice. It's just special to know that people like that see the game in a way that they understand me. I feel like sometimes as a player I might be a little bit misunderstood, but to feel like I've been understood by them is nice."
Alexander-Arnold made his first appearance at the World Cup against Wales in the 3-0 win that saw them top the group.
It was a game that saw Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden take the headlines and Alexander-Arnold reckons any defender would be worried at facing the Man United forward.
"When he steps onto the pitch, you're thinking he's going to use his pace, he's going to use his speed to get in behind, to get at people. He's skilful, he can score goals, he can create goals," he said.
Cafu and Roberto Carlos are in Qatar to watch Brazil, but have been impressed by Alexander-Arnold
The Liverpool star featured against Wales and will be ready if called upon against Senegal
"He's someone, as defenders, you don't want to play against players like that because all game you're worried about what they're going to do, if they're going to score, if they're going to create.
"To have him on your team, you know what defenders are thinking. He's an outstanding player. I think he's underrated, I think he's someone that can win games for club and country.
"He has shown that before and I'm sure he'll carry on and do that. I think he's someone that can help us win this tournament."
No comments:
Post a Comment