How could Liverpool replace Alexander-Arnold?

Real Madrid’s departure for Trent Alexander-Arnold is getting closer, so Liverpool needs to start considering how to replace him.

Since making his Reds debut in 2016, the 26-year-old right-back has won everything, including the Premier League and Champions League.

Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot still claims nothing has been resolved, but it’s fair to say that if he leaves, there would be a sizable gap at right-back.

Alexander-Arnold’s creative numbers are growing year after year, and he has established himself as a playmaking right-back.

The English international’s talents were used in a variety of ways under Jurgen Klopp.

He began his professional career as an all-action right-back working with Andy Robertson, his full-back partner on the other flank.

Alexander-Arnold has continued to do this since Arne Slot took over as manager, frequently as a way to create opportunities for Mohamed Salah on the right wing.

The England international has consistently been a valuable asset to Liverpool, particularly when it comes to creating chances and playing out of the back.

Alexander-Arnold has always had questions about his defense.

Since making the first team, Conor Bradley has been Alexander-Arnold’s understudy. The Northern Ireland international will undoubtedly be involved in the discussions surrounding the right-back replacement.

Bradley has struggled to maintain consistency in this season’s starting XI, playing just over 1, 000 games. Given that he and Alexander-Arnold are competing for spots, he has had to work hard enough to get game time, but recurring, long-term injuries have also been a hindrance.

Bradley has always shown great promise whenever he has played, despite having a significantly different profile at full-back than Alexander-Arnold.

The 21-year-old enjoys physical duels and is eager to do defensive work, which is in line with Slot’s desire for Liverpool players to maintain a strong counter-press.

Bradley averaged 7.62 progressive receptions per game in 750 league minutes last year, which means he was receiving the ball at least seven times in positions closer to the opposition goal.

Strasbourg’s Guela Doue

Guela Doue, who is 27 games into his second full season of senior league football, is already making waves at Strasbourg under the direction of 40-year-old former Hull manager Liam Rosenior.

Since moving to Strasbourg, Doue has shown his versatility after breaking ground in Rennes in the 2023-2019 season. The 22-year-old Ivory Coast international is a right-back who is capable of being a wide center-back in a three or a right-wing-back.

The versatile defender has only been surpassed at Strasbourg by Diego Moreira in terms of the average carries with the ball this season.

Similar to Alexander-Arnold, Doue enjoys receiving the ball deeper in his own half before moving the ball further up the pitch with long forward passes to his striker or winger.

Anton Gaaei (Ajax)

Anton Gaaei, who is now Francesco Farioli’s “Danish Beckham,” has quickly established himself as the team’s first-choice right-back this campaign.

The 21-year-old joined Ajax after three seasons with Viborg in the Danish Superliga, where he has made 21 Eredivisie appearances this season.

The variety and quality of Gaaei’s crossing immediately appeal. With his right boot, he can transfer a lot of power to the ball from deeper areas or to the byline and also cut back into the box. His signature is a diagonal low cross that he strikes diagonally past defenders to connect with his team-mates as they pass.

Gaaei continues to improve on the defensive end of his game, which is helped by his excellent quickness in tracking back and making effective off-ball runs beyond his winger.

The young Dane, who is also given the task of setting up set-piece play, benefits from Ajax’s dominant play, which produces about five crosses per match.

Porto’s Martim Fernandes

Martim Fernandes, who has impressed many since joining Porto’s first team this year, is the youngest player of the three and arguably the one with the greatest potential.

Fernandes, who is only 19 years old, is already a key creative force in the side and has five assists in his 21 Liga Portugal appearances.

He enjoys starting and is a great ball-carrier, skilled at getting into dangerous zones inside the opposition’s six-yard box, like Alexander-Arnold.

Given his age, it’s no wonder he averages an expected assists (xA) of 0.31 in the Portuguese top flight, which is incredibly impressive.

The Porto number 52 can maneuver in tight spaces to curl a cross into the box, much like Alexander-Arnold does, and exhibits promising movement when underlapping or overlapping to cross.

Fernandes has averaged a remarkable 3.61 crosses per match this term in Liga Portugal.