Liverpool went 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League on Boxing Day by thrashing Leicester City 4-0 at the King Power Stadium. The league leaders exposed the task at hand the Foxes have to challenge with the best and could have sent the second-placed side to third when Wolverhampton Wanderers play Manchester City this evening. The club world champions were particularly dominant against one of the Premier League’s surprise packages, and key to Liverpool’s success was right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Englishman was at his devastatingly creative best going forward, but also contributed at the back to make a tackle, when neither Virgil van Dijk or Joe Gomez at the heart of the defence made a single one. Alexander-Arnold also made an interception and a clearance, which was rather exceptional considering his side had so little defending to do in the thrashing. Though he did also commit a foul to present Leicester City with an opportunity, but fortunately for the right-back, the Foxes were unable to make anything of it.
Meanwhile, in possession the England international was at his very best, making 60 passes, with a 76.7 per cent accuracy. However, what was most impressive is that the majority of those efforts were all aimed with the intent of penetrating the opposition backline. Most of them did just that, as the defender played a game-high three key passes, two of which led to assists taking his total to eight in the Premier League this season. He is now just two assists behind Kevin De Bruyne in the race for the Premier League Playmaker award, as Alexander-Arnold aims to win it for the first time.
Furthermore, the defender whipped in an enormous 17 crosses, with a game-high five reaching a man in red. He also provided ten long balls – four of which reached a teammate. But the Englishman also excelled in front of goal. Only the front three had more shots for Liverpool than the right-back, and he was rewarded for his efforts on target with a goal. He is, without doubt, the best wing-back in the Premier League and possibly the world right now, and Alexander-Arnold gave one of his best displays when it mattered most against Leicester City.
