Look at today for example. Yes Doku completed some dribbles, but most times Trent funneled him to the byline or inside and Doku wasn’t really threatening for the most part. Yet the prevailing narrative is that he got destroyed by Doku.
He has actually been decent to good at defending this season yet people say he’s been a horrific defender. I don’t think this is quite true if you watch him play.
I won’t claim that he’s an amazing defender but he’s not a bad one either, he’s just a perfectly average to good defender but the narrative is that he’s a liability. It’s frustrating to see.
He’s obviously not a bad defender. That narrative is just a lazy talking point peddled by sub standard pundits to give the person in the pub something to talk about.
Football punditry does nothing to grow awareness and understanding and just plays into the tired tropes. Football writing however can be exceptional and insightful. Punditry in this country should be much better.
Anyway, Trent is an elite footballer so obviously he can defend. Is it as good a part of his game as how he supports the team going forward, no. It’s not for me. For Liverpool that’s rarely an issue and he gives so much positive.
It’s a bit like Zinchenko, he’s not a bad defender but he does make mistakes or swith off more than the real elite full back would. He gives so much to the team with the rest of his game that you have to balance.
TAA is an elite striker of the ball and he gives you assists etc. He will remain a great full back but he will never be one of the best due to defensive lapses.