Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is a ‘better passer and crosser’ than Manchester United legend David Beckham, according to Joe Cole.
Former England players Cole and Rio Ferdinand both hailed Alexander-Arnold after Liverpool’s Champions League win over Benfica in Lisbon.
Alexander-Arnold produced another impressive display in the 3-1 quarter-final first-leg victory on Tuesday, with his range of passing blowing away Cole and Ferdinand.
Ferdinand joked it was ‘out or order’ the way Alexander-Arnold distributes the ball, while Cole said the England right-back has reached an even higher level than Beckham.
Beckham is viewed as one of United and England’s greatest-ever players, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League with the Red Devils. He also won titles in Spain, France and America with Real Madrid, PSG and LA Galaxy.
‘Look, it doesn’t need words. It’s Beckham-like but I think he’s actually a better passer than Beckham, a better crosser than Beckham,’ Cole told BT Sport when analysing Alexander-Arnold’s performance against Benfica.
‘That’s saying something because Becks was the best of my generation. The problem England have got is we’ve also got [Chelsea right-back] Reece James.
‘You cannot leave either of them out, they’ve both got outstanding attributes. Tactically, can Gareth Southgate find a way of getting them both in the team?’
Ferdinand added: ‘Trent is as good a passer as anyone on the planet right now, I don’t care.
‘When I saw one of his passes yesterday, I was screaming. And it’s not usually passes that do that to me. It’s out or order the way he passes the ball. It’s not only the execution, it’s the vision.’
Alexander-Arnold also drew praise from Liverpool keeper Alisson after their Champions League victory over Benfica.
The Brazilian said: ‘Sometimes it looks as if he has got eyes on his back! He just gets the ball and puts it there. ‘The diagonal ball for Luis [Diaz] was amazing, then the decision Luis had to give Sadio [Mane] the ball – it was an amazing goal.
‘Everyone can score in the team, that is good for us and we keep on going and get ready for the next one.’
