Liverpool just saw ideal catalyst to reignite faltering attack and it may re-unlock Darwin Núñez

Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered some sumptuous passes against Atalanta
Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered some sumptuous passes against Atalanta -Credit:Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images


Liverpool might not have beaten Atalanta by enough goals to maintain its interest in the 2023/24 Europa League on Thursday night, but it demonstrated it knew how to overcome the Italian side’s man-to-man marking system. The easiest way to take opponents out of the equation and find space is through playing long passes.

The Reds’ architect in chief of this was Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was making his first start after 14 Liverpool matches and a little over two months since his last one. Per FBRef, he completed nine long passes those of over 30 yards in length — which is a relatively high total when not playing a full game.

Alexander-Arnold delivered just the ninth instance of a Reds player succeeding with at least nine long balls when playing no more than 71 minutes away from home in the last seven seasons. He was responsible for three of the other eight, with Thiago Alcântara’s Liverpool debut at Chelsea top of the pile, with 13 long passes completed in just 45 minutes.

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It was a far shorter effort that made the greatest impact in Bergamo. An attempted cross by Alexander-Arnold hit the hand of Matteo Ruggeri, leading to the penalty from which Mohamed Salah scored the only goal of the game. But it was a long pass from the number 66 which set the wheels of the move in motion, as he released Luis Díaz on the left and Atalanta failed to regain possession until it was kicking off at 1-0 down.

The same link-up started a sequence leading to an Opta-defined big chance just five minutes later. Alexander-Arnold again found Díaz with a long ball and three passes later the Colombian was clean through on the Atalanta goal. While this was the end of the right-back’s lengthy passing contributing to shot-generating moves, he either shot or created three of Liverpool’s six goal attempts between then and when he was substituted.

The Reds were even more productive with their long passing on their previous visit to Atalanta. Four of the five goals they scored that night were assisted by long passes, which is a remarkable total in a single match. For context, Liverpool has eight long-ball assists in all competitions this season.

Alexander-Arnold supplied four of them. He deployed his sublime long-range passing to set up Darwin Núñez in the Carabao Cup victory at Bournemouth, then assisted both Salah and Curtis Jones in the following round against West Ham. As important as these goals were in helping the Reds secure a trophy this season, the 25-year-old’s most vital long-ball assist may yet to prove to be the one from which Salah equalized against Arsenal at Anfield.

Goals inevitably make the passes that precede them more memorable. The long ball against the Gunners was the only chance-creating one in that match but Liverpool had three in both of the following games against Burnley and Newcastle (including two from Alexander-Arnold at Turf Moor), the shots just went unconverted.

Even so, Trent’s recovery from injury means this valuable asset will return to the Reds’ attack for the Premier League title run-in. Neither he nor the team have many peers in this regard. Per WhoScored, Liverpool’s total of 93 chances created via long passes is at least 19 more than any other team in Europe’s big five leagues.

A third of the total has come from the boots of Alexander-Arnold, the top player in England for this metric this season. He’s only four shy of leading everyone in France, Germany, Italy and Spain too, with the four players above him in the standings all having played at least 500 minutes more. The England international can turn defense into attack in a heartbeat.

Liverpool.com says: With Liverpool desperate for goals in open play, the return of Alexander-Arnold could be the catalyst the attack needs. Getting the ball forward more quickly may help Núñez out of his current funk, for instance. Trent has six games left to collect the assist he needs to hit double figures for a fifth time, and a long pass may help him get it.