Alexander-Arnold’s hybrid role typifies how enthralling this approach can be with the ball and worryingly defective and fragile without it
Liverpool look primed to score 101 this season. Until their structural redesign is finished, they might concede a century, too.
As metaphors go, playing in front of an incomplete new Anfield Road stand was fitting for this thrilling but imperfect victory over Bournemouth, Jurgen Klopp’s rebuild needing as much refining as the new upper tier with 9,000 empty seats.
The consensus remains ‘Liverpool reloaded’ just need a defensive midfielder to bring all the components together, Wakaru Endo impressing on debut to bring a semblance of composure for the final 30 minutes of this 3-1 win. The timing of his arrival could not have been better after the harsh dismissal of Alex Mac Allister for a high challenge on Ryan Christie reduced Liverpool to 10 men.
But even with 11, the preceding hour highlighted why it will require more than a solitary No.6 to stop Klopp’s side drawing crazy patterns, wild passages quickening the pulse in both penalty boxes of a chaotic contest. Liverpool could have scored double the three that took them to victory and Bournemouth could still have left wondering how they failed to grab a point.