Trent Alexander-Arnold looked a shadow of his usual attacking self as Liverpool drew 1-1 with Tottenham, according to Jermaine Jenas.
The Reds suffered a blow to their hopes of completing an unprecedented quadruple by only taking a point at Anfield. Following a goalless first half, Son Heung-min opened the scoring after 56 minutes.
Spurs had soaked up intense Liverpool pressure for most of the first half. Indeed, they only showed glimpses of their counter-attacking prowess.
However, they got an attacking situation spot-on after the break, Son getting a tap-in. At the other end, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane struggled to offer much.
Luis Diaz was the Liverpool bright spark but even his equaliser came via a deflection, such was the solid effort from Tottenham in defence.
On the right of Jurgen Klopp’s side’s attack, Jenas claimed that Alexander-Arnold could have been more effective in his crossing.
“Let’s not forget, Liverpool have had a very intense few weeks and months, going behind against Villarreal early on and having to come back,” Jenas told Match of the Day.
“They just lacked that bit of quality, I thought, in the final third. Usually those crosses you see being picked out, they just looked disconnected.
“Star players like Salah and Mane didn’t come to the party at all.
“Spurs were brilliant, but Liverpool had 47 crosses and 21 of them were from Alexander-Arnold.
“More often than not, it was overhit, not on the money, and when you are up against a team as well drilled as Spurs were today, you are not going to get away with it.”
The result moved Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League table on goal difference. However, Manchester City can go three points clear at the summit with a win at home to Newcastle on Sunday.
Alexander-Arnold blip proves costly
Alexander-Arnold struggled to create much of meaning for Liverpool against Tottenham.
While Tottenham defenders Cristian Romero and Ben Davies deserve credit, the Reds’ right-back was indeed not as effective from the right as he usually is.
He was still a threat at times and the defending helped snuff the danger out.
However, the small drop in quality counted for a lot and shows the high standards Liverpool and City are striving for in each match to carry on winning.
The Reds return to action on Tuesday when they are at Aston Villa for a reunion with Steven Gerrard.
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