The early Trent Alexander Arnold error
Liverpool conceded a free-kick in a threatening area within two minutes from kick-off and paid the price for it. Set-piece specialist, James Ward-Prowse, placed the ball down and looked set to play the ball in towards the far post where Southampton had their imposing defenders stationed.
More from Rush The Kop
- Set to return, Virgil Van Dijk facing heavy criticism back home
- Liverpool making late comebacks all the rage once again
- Wolves tilt gives Klopp opportunity to tinker with lineup following international duty
- Players to watch in the matchup with Wolves
- Predicting Liverpool’s Next Five Premier League Fixtures
However, this wasn’t to be. Instead of that, the Englishman played a clever ball in behind, which former Red Danny Ings was quick to anticipate. A move straight from the training ground. The goal should never have happened though, and without Trent Alexander Arnold’s mistake, it may not have.
The right-back, who was marking Ings, looked set to clear the ball. Despite being in a perfectly natural position to dispatch the ball away from Liverpool’s box, the number 66 made a rash change in heart and avoided the ball altogether.
Perhaps he didn’t expect Ings to get to the ball quick enough, but even that he should have known, given that the ball wasn’t played with too much force.
Unfortunately for Trent, the number 9 did reach the ball and lobbed the onrushing Alisson to give Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side the early lead. Apart from the mistake, Alexander-Arnold was very sloppy all game, losing the ball 38 times, a Premier League record for this season. (Stats by WhoScored)