€20m star is the ONLY one who can replace Trent Alexand-Arnold

If Liverpool have to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold there is only one viable option and he is the one they should target at all costs.

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Richard Hughes will not want to be in this situation. That is one thing you can absolutely guarantee. He will be doing his utmost to keep Alexander-Arnold at the club by any means possible using all the resources at his disposal.

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However, Real Madrid have a strong pull and it's entirely on the table right now that Alexander-Arnold could leave on a free transfer come the end of the season.

This earth shattering move will be a devastating blow for Liverpool.

There will be no one like Alexander-Arnold who the Reds could come in and be a direct replacement for the club's homegrown talent. Alexander-Arnold is simply generational and incredibly unique in the way he creates chances and is able to distribute the ball.

Liverpool won't find that anywhere but there is an exciting young talent who could at least fill some of that Alexander-Arnold void should the worst possible scenario happen.

Why Vanderson is the only possible Alexander-Arnold replacement

Valued at €19.6m by Football Transfers, the Brazilian right-back is currently plying his trade in Ligue 1 at AS Monaco.

He's only 23 years old at the moment and he's got a lot of years of experience already under his belt playing in his homeland and in Europe.

A quick and explosive player, Vanderson doesn't have the generational passing ability nor creativity of Alexander-Arnold but he is an extremely competent defender who can be a threat going forward as well and make an impact in offensive situations.

He averages 0.24 goals and assists per 90 this season in Ligue 1, which is below Alexander-Arnold who is at 0.38 for Liverpool in the Premier League in this campaign.

Where Vanderson stands out though and where he could be an excellent asset for this Liverpool team is his reading of the game and defensive ability.

FBref lists the most similar player to him as Conor Bradley, which is interesting because the pair of them could offer ideal competition to each other on Liverpool's right-flank.

Vanderson wins 70% of his attempted tackles this season, which is a really impressive return. Even a much more defensively sound Alexander-Arnold is only winning 49.2% of his attempted challenges under Slot.

Vanderson also averages 2.04 interceptions per 90 compared to Alexander-Arnold's 1.24 per 90 and he makes 6.54 recoveries as opposed to Alexander-Arnold who makes 5.34.

Offensively, Vanderson doesn't drop back and play creative passes like Alexnder-Arnold. He is more of an explosive full-back who will try to get into dangerous positions in the final third - a bit like Bradley.

That's why he averages 2.13 touches in the opponent's penalty box and 0.11xG as opposed to Alexander-Arnold who averages just 1.68 touches and 0.05xG.

So, Liverpool will be getting a different type of right-back. A player more similar but with more experience than Bradley and someone who will fortify that position for the Reds in the absence of Alexander-Arnold.

That is probably the best case scenario. There aren't many world-class right-backs on the market, Vanderson is one of the rare gems who could be available and that's why he is the only one the club should go for.

But let's hope it doesn't come to that.

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