Does Trent's return give Liverpool the edge in the title race?

From the moment the ball left his foot, you knew exactly where it was going to end up. Trent Alexander-Arnold marked his return to a Premier League starting XI in style on Sunday, scoring a sumptous free-kick from to set Liverpool on their way to a 3-1 win against Fulham. 

This was the first time in more than two months that Alexander-Arnold has featured from the outset in the Premier League. His return to fitness came at the perfect time, with Connor Bradley currently sidelined with an injury he picked up in the shock defeat by Crystal Palace. 

Jurgen Klopp shuffled his pack for the trip to Craven Cottage. Leaving out Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Nunez represented a risk, albeit one that ultimately paid off as Liverpool moved level on points with Arsenal in top spot. 

Alexander-Arnold’s inclusion in the XI went a long way to helping the Reds return to winning ways. His free-kick - only Steven Gerrard and Jamie Redknapp have scored more for the club in the Premier League - hit the back of the net in the 32nd minute, preventing any nerves setting in among his teammates.  

That was not his only contribution. Alexander-Arnold’s long passing was typically spectacular, as he frequently released Liverpool forwards in advanced positions. As he has done for much of the past year, the right-back moved into a midfield role when his team had the ball, with Jarell Quansah shifting out into the space he vacated and Wataru Endo dropping into a defensive position to make a back three. Alexander-Arnold attempted 73 passes in all, including 15 into the final third - comfortably more than any other Liverpool player.  

"I think the more and more I'm playing in the middle of the pitch, the tighter and more compact I'm finding it," Alexander-Arnold told Sky Sports after the game. "The manager has told me to get into that position to try to get on the ball and find those passes over the top." 

The fact the England international is fully fit again will give Liverpool fresh impetus in the title race. Klopp’s team looked tired, both mentally and physically, in recent duels with Atalanta and Crystal Palace. Not only does Alexander-Arnold not have as many minutes in his legs as some of his colleagues, his constant willingess to take the ball and his ability to do productive things with it provides Liverpool with a spark that was previously lacking. 

Alexander-Arnold is not the only full-back in England who takes up a midfield position in possession, but he is by far the best suited to it. There are justifiable criticisms to be made of the 25-year-old’s one-versus-one defending, but his ability on the ball is world-class. Alexander-Arnold routinely runs games for Liverpool, a claim that few other inverted full-backs can make.

Of those who have played at least 1000 Premier League minutes this season, only Pascal Gross (3.1), Andy Robertson (3), Andreas Pereira (3) and Bruno Fernandes (2.9) are averaging more key passes per 90 than Alexander-Arnold (2.8). Yet of that quartet, only Pascal Gross can better the Liverpool right-back’s rate of 70 passes per 90, which shows Alexander-Arnold tends to be more involved in the game than most of the division’s other leading creators. 

For now Liverpool are fully focused on the title race, with a trip to Everton to awaiting this week. Come the summer, though, the Reds will make contract talks with Alexander-Arnold one of their top priorities. 

The England international’s current deal expires in 2025 and Liverpool will not want to let that run down. Given his age and all-round quality, Alexander-Arnold is probably the player that Liverpool can least afford to lose.