Garth Crooks doesn’t always get it right with his BBC Team of the Week…
Often the pundit selects bizarre formations and players who shouldn’t make the cut, but his picks are always very readable – probably why they’ve been happening so long!
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Garth Crooks’ TOTW has Mo Salah in weird position, but three other Reds included
Following the weekend, Crooks selected two Liverpool stars thanks to our 3-0 victory over Bournemouth: Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Salah didn’t actually have his best game individually, but got the nod due to his 40th goal of the campaign, but Trent was superb.
Here’s what Crooks had to say on the young right-back:
“I said a few weeks ago that the Champions League fixture against Manchester City would be a massive test for full-backs Andrew Robertson and Alexander-Arnold.
“Both players came through the test with flying colours, but I didn’t expect Alexander-Arnold to have played himself into Gareth Southgate’s World Cup plans.
“His defensive play has been outstanding recently and the ball for Mohamed Salah to score his 40th goal of the season against Bournemouth was of the highest quality. A future full England international if ever I saw one.
“No Liverpool player created more chances (four) against the Cherries than 19-year-old Alexander-Arnold, and the full-back set up Salah’s goal.”
Well said, Garth!
We’d actually now be surprised if Alexander-Arnold wasn’t part of England’s World Cup squad, which shows just how exceptional he’s been.
He’s always had the ability to bomb forward and whip in dangerous balls with his wonderful right-foot, but defending hasn’t always come naturally.
Now though, he’s learning and improving practically every game at the back.