Trent Alexander-Arnold: Has He Assisted a Teammate in Every Position on the Pitch?
If you believe the latest social media buzz, Trent Alexander-Arnold is the only player in football history to have assisted a teammate in every position on the pitch. This statistic has been shared by various Liverpool-related accounts, including ‘Watch LFC’, ‘Anything Liverpool’, ‘The Anfield Buzz’ and ‘The Kop Watch’. However, this statistic is false.
Alexander-Arnold has never assisted another right-back, as he has played the majority of his senior football as a right-back himself. It had been suggested that he had assisted a right-back when playing in midfield for England, but this was not the case. His only official assist when playing as a midfielder was for Bukayo Saka in England’s 7-0 win over North Macedonia.
Alexander-Arnold has assisted 21 different players in a Liverpool shirt, according to LFCHistory. This includes Alisson’s header against West Brom, which placed him in an exclusive group of players who have laid on goals for goalkeepers. However, this does not make him the first to do so.
In response to queries on which right-back Alexander-Arnold had set up, it was argued in some quarters that James Milner ‘counted’, given he played the role on a number of occasions for Liverpool. Of course, he has never assisted a goal for Milner in his career.
To claim that Alexander-Arnold is the first player in history to assist a goal for every position on the pitch is impossible to know. This sensational statistic has gained traction on social media due to its sensationalism, but it is not based in fact.
The same can be said for other viral claims, such as Pele claiming he was the most prolific goalscorer in footballing history with 1,283 goals in 1,366 games. Pele did count those scored in friendlies and amateur games, and even some while serving in the Brazilian army.
Social media can be a great platform for sharing news and information, but it is important to be aware of false claims and sensationalism. The truth is often more interesting than fiction, and it is important to be aware of what is real and what is not.