Gary Neville Admits Getting Cristiano Ronaldo Vibes From Trent Alexander-Arnold During His Liverpool Breakthrough

It’s not a surprise to see where Trent Alexander-Arnold is in his career. The Liverpool player has been one of the finest right-backs in the Premier League in the last few years, helping his team win various titles. A versatile defender with capabilities of handling midfield, Alexander-Arnold’s energy on the pitch is a charm in itself. However, in an interesting take by Gary Neville, the Englishman was found to have facets like Cristiano Ronaldo during his growing years. Is he comparing a defender to an attacker? How does this fit?

Drawing parallels between Trent and Ronaldo in terms of position may be odd, but Neville saw similarities in their physicalities. However, the statement surprisingly came when both were discussing the growth of CR7, and Neville told the Liverpool star, “Your body shape is similar to Cristiano’s, I would say, in the sense that when he first came in. You get stronger. He’s got stronger,” citing their improvement during initial years.

Even though it’s just been seven and a half years, significantly less than the Portuguese captain’s career, Alexander-Arnold carved out radical differences in his fitness levels. In 2020, during the lockdown, Alexander-Arnold reported a radical shift in his health, being engaged in online training for workouts. The player confessed to getting ‘more aware’ of his body and mind and kept upgrading. The player subsequently went on to help the Reds achieve their first Premier League title that year.

On the other hand, injuries have been a worry for Trent. After suffering a hamstring injury at the start of the season, the player was sidelined for three months this year with a lateral ligament injury. But he is back now and will aim to win titles for his team just like Ronaldo. Meanwhile, despite praising his former teammate, Neville had one major issue with CR7 during their days together.

Gary Neville remembers the decision-making flaws of Cristiano Ronaldo

Even though Cristiano Ronaldo was hailed for his progressive mindset, Neville felt he initially lacked clarity on the pitch. During the conversation, Neville had also said, “His decision-making was quite erratic. You know, if he should have crossed it, he dribbled. If he should have dribbled, he crossed it,” claiming that he frustrated the rest of the players. Neville further went on to say he even lost faith in Ronaldo and was unclear what he would do next.

Meanwhile, at 39, Cristiano Ronaldo remains a physical stalwart. His 54 goals in 2023 demonstrate his ability to defy expectations at his age. However, it remains to see if Trent Alexander-Arnold can replicate this longevity and prove Neville’s statements.