Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold is 'Championship-level' defensively – Leboeuf

Trent Alexander-Arnold in action for Liverpool against Ajax in the Champions League.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Former Chelsea and France centre-back Franck Leboeuf has criticised Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, calling him 'Championship-level defensively'.

Leboeuf says he is a big fan of the England international's attacking qualities, but believes he needs to improve the defensive facet of his game.

In an interview with French newspaper Journal du Dimanche, Leboeuf said: "Look at Trent Alexander-Arnold. I love the guy, his offensive qualities. But defensively, he's Championship level.

"Only [Jurgen] Klopp's system works for him. When it doesn't work as well as it has this season, all you see is his defensive shortcomings.

"I want to take him with me to work on the basics. I would say to him: 'Turn your head and look behind you, it will be better already'."

And Leboeuf has found a surprising scapegoat for what he sees as a lack of focus on the defensive aspect of the game by Alexander-Arnold and other modern-day full-backs.

"It was Roberto Carlos who deformed generations of defenders," he said.

Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.