Arne Slot drops MASSIVE Trent Alexander-Arnold future HINT

Liverpool have been flying since the arrival of Arne Slot in the summer, but there could be a big problem on the horizon.

The Reds are currently eight points clear at the top of the Premier League and will have the chance to extend that lead further when Manchester City visit Anfield on 1 December.

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Despite Liverpool’s early season success, three of their biggest stars, Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, are all out of contract in June.

Although contract extensions are reportedly in the works, Slot may have already started preparing for life without some of his best players, especially Alexander-Arnold.

Is Slot weaning Liverpool off Trent?

Negotiations over a new contract for the Reds’ vice-captain appear to be stalling, and with interest from Real Madrid only intensifying, Slot could have already started contingency planning.

Conor Bradley had made a number of Premier League cameos before he replaced the injured Trent in Liverpool’s lineup in Sunday's 3-2 win over Southampton, and he has also played every minute of the Reds' Carabao Cup campaign.

These opportunities could represent Slot trying to prepare Bradley to become Liverpool’s starting right-back should Trent leave in the summer.

Bradley showed his potential when Alexander-Arnold spent a period on the sideline injured in the middle of last season, and now he has the chance to show why he should become Liverpool’s first choice at right-back if the position opens up.

Has full-back position changed under Slot?

Under Jurgen Klopp, the full-backs were absolutely integral to Liverpool’s build-up play, and were one of the team’s main creative outlets, but the arrival of Slot has changed things at Anfield.

The full-backs have taken a step back in Slot’s system, meaning the Reds are less reliant on the brilliance of Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool’s full-backs are less involved in the attack this season and typically more involved in the defence than they were last season.

All four of the Reds full-back options, Trent, Bradley, Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas have seen a drop off of at least 25% in their Shot Creating Actions per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season.

Alexander-Arnold and Tsimikas are also performing at least 35% more tackles and interceptions per 90 under Slot, although interestingly both Robertson and Bradley’s tackles and interceptions per 90 have decreased this campaign.

Only ONE assister

Trent and Robertson have also seen a drop off in their touches per 90, with Alexander-Arnold’s touches/90 dropping by almost 25%.

The most telling statistic is that three of the four full-backs are yet to record a Premier League assist this campaign. Last season Trent recorded 0.17 assists/90, Robertson 0.11, Tsimikas 0.4 and Bradley 0.36 but this season it is only Trent who has recorded an assist in the competition.

These stats highlight the different role of the full-backs in Slot’s system compared to Klopp’s. They still play a role in the attack, but that role is more reserved.

Conor Bradley was able to perform 5.12 tackles and interceptions per 90 under Klopp last season, and although that number has dropped off this year it shows that he could bolster the Reds defence if he was given a sustained run in the team.

Liverpool supporters will be desperate to see Alexander-Arnold stay in Merseyside, but Slot may already be trying to decrease the team’s reliance on the 26-year-old in order to mitigate the damage should he choose to leave.

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