Pep Lijnders: Robertson and Alexander-Arnold are more than just full-backs

Reds assistant manager Pep Lijnders has spoken about the contributions of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool this season.

The two full-backs are in friendly competition with each other to see who can get the most assists throughout the campaign, with Robertson on 11 and Alexander-Arnold on 8.

Lijnders, however, believes there is much more to the two defenders than just creating goals.

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“‘Full-back’ is just not the right description!” he told LiverpoolFC.com.

“We have a team of 11 at a time – each of whom is a forward and a defender [and], in specific moments, everyone has to feel like a striker. Our dream team goal is that Trent comes through and Robbo scores. They know how to speed up in the right situations.

“Crossing is a by-product of constant movement on the wings. We have this spirit where we want to have the ball, search for wing attacks, take initiative to overlap or underlap.

“Here lies their strengths, that’s why they play for us.”

He added: “If you want to go fast, focus on attacking. If you want to go far, focus on defending,” he continued. “Balance is everything.

“Solve situations as high as possible is the second best way to defend – far away from your own goalkeeper.

“The first way is to make teams passive by changing the tempo of passes constantly. Then defending take cares by itself.”

Lijnders also praied Liverpool’s centre-backs, who have contributed massively to the success of the Reds’ season so far.

“Don’t forget Virgil is as good because of the player next to him,” Lijnders added. “Joel, Joe or Dejan, all three of them.

“For me you can only evaluate a centre-half as a pair. They lead, they organise protection, the base for good pressing is the positioning of the last line and they are responsible for this.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com