Can Liverpool still maintain their edge with the departure of Alexander-Arnold? That’s the question every fan asks now.
Since his breakout in 2016/17, Alexander-Arnold became the creative engine of a dominant Liverpool team. That team swept aside opponents both domestically and across Europe, winning every major trophy available.
Now that Alexander-Arnold has joined Real Madrid, doubts loom over whether anyone can truly replace his impact at Liverpool.
The club made significant moves to fill the void, but the question remains: will anyone truly step into his shoes? Lets delve deeper into this.
Trent’s probable replacements
David Ornstein reported today that Liverpool reached an agreement to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a British record transfer fee. Wirtz becomes the second creative player signed this window after Jeremie Frimpong joined earlier to bolster the squad. Both Frimpong and Wirtz depart Leverkusen, joining the club their former manager, Xabi Alonso, won his maiden Champions League Title at.
The signing of these two indicate Liverpool’s clear efforts to replace Alexander-Arnold’s creative and attacking influence.
Despite these signings, doubts remain about replicating Alexander-Arnold’s output.
Frimpong has pace and skill but struggles defensively just like his predecessor (maybe even more) but, offensively Alexander-Arnold still outshines him.
Wirtz brings strong attacking qualities and could help fill the creative gap, but he’ll need time to adapt. The Premier League poses a tougher challenge than the Bundesliga, where he asserted himself with ease.
Will Wirtz be the answer?
Since his breakout in 2023/24, Wirtz led Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title and impressed for Germany. That form earned him a move to Premier League giants Liverpool.
Still, no one knows if Wirtz and Frimpong can truly match Alexander-Arnold’s impact. Even the most loyal Liverpool fans hesitate to say it with confidence.
