Sold for £6.5 million, cost £0: Liverpool flop received as much assists as Alexander-Arnold previous season

Seeing this star succeed after leaving Anfield in 2019 is fascinating.

Few anticipated the significance of Jurgen Klopp’s appointment and its far-reaching consequences on a city yearning for more when he took over at Liverpool in 2015.

Naturally, there is a chasm separating red and blue that separates Liverpool, but in recent years, the Reds have emerged victorious and won multiple titles, most notably the Premier League and the Champions League. Meanwhile, Everton has been anchored in a murky abyss.

Not everything has gone as planned; the 2020–21 season’s decline from championship contention was a consequence of growing injuries and the lack of assistance brought on by coronavirus limitations.

And who could forget the agony of the previous season, when a team so powerful felt unexpectedly depleted of vitality and life, their years together beginning to wear thin, and Klopp’s intense, high-octane style of play was suddenly not applied in a way that was appropriate.

But throughout the summer, steps were taken to come up with a suitable remedy, which included a thorough midfield restructuring. The old is gone and the new is in.

Teams in the Champions League play while the Anfield side observes from a distance, but there’s still a chance to win the last trophy that eludes Klopp in the Europa League.

Even while the current Liverpool team isn’t the same as the dominant group from a few years ago, it still has enough potential to repeat Klopp’s previous achievements.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, who graduated from the academy and was a key figure in the Klopp period, continues to be at the center of the project despite all of the changes.

What is the quality of Trent Alexander-Arnold?

The Liverpool fans have known they have a jewel in their hands ever since Alexander-Arnold, then 18 years old, scored a free kick against Hoffenheim in a 2017–18 Champions League qualifying match.

And he has truly shown to be a sparkling sensation for the team he grew up playing for, contributing significantly to every trophy won under Klopp’s direction and receiving accolades for his exquisite passing and delivery.

Liverpool’s second captain, who has made 280 appearances for his team, has amassed 16 goals and 73 assists. TalkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino has described the player’s ball-playing abilities as “qualities that are not far off Lionel Messi”.

He is clearly one of the best creators in the game; according to FBref, he is in the top 3% of full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues over the previous year for assists, the top 4% for actions that create shots, the top 1% for attempted passes, and the top 6% for progressive passes per 90.

The full-back, who earns £180,000 a week, has established himself as one of the most inventive players in world football, even outside of Liverpool’s roster. Most European teams would be happy to have his unique skill set.

It’s amazing that a former Liverpool washout managed to equal his number, considering that he had a spectacular purple patch in the latter stages of the 2022–2023 season, collecting seven assists during his final 10 Premier League games to bring his total to ten.

Ryan Kent had a very brief appearance at Anfield before leaving after just one game, yet he went on to have a well regarded career.

Why was Ryan Kent sold by Liverpool?

Kent left Liverpool for Rangers in 2019 after spending a total of £6.5 million, with an additional £1 million available through add-ons. Kent had been a member of the Reds’ academy since the age of seven.

Kent, who was long recognized for his quickness, cunning, and effectiveness on both wings, only made one senior appearance for the team despite recording 30 appearances for the development squad, nine goals, and six assists.

Having spent most of his formative professional years out on loan, the Ibrox side signed a one-year loan agreement in 2018 at the age of 21, which turned out to be the most significant turning point in his career thus far.

After just 21 starts in the Scottish Premiership that season, Kent had already won the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award while on loan with the Gers. He had also contributed six goals and six assists per game.

Even though Kent is a good player, Liverpool was probably right to sell him since, under Klopp’s aspirational leadership, he lacked the traits necessary for success, and the money gained from the sale more than made up for the punishment.

If he had stayed at the club, he would have been forced to play in the shadow of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, which would have prevented him from rising to the top and left him languishing at a time when launching his career was the best course of action.

How is Ryan Kent now doing?

Kent’s Rangers contract expired in the summer, and he signed a free transfer to Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce after spending five seasons at Ibrox.

Despite his limited usage thus far, he has managed to record one goal and two assists from just five starts in all competitions.

The 26-year-old, who ended his career at Rangers with 33 goals and 56 assists from 218 appearances, was once referred to be a “wizard” by his former colleague Leon Balogun. Despite his struggles, the player won the Scottish Cup and Premiership.

He matched Alexander-Arnold’s yearly total of 10 assists last season; obviously, he lacks the Liverpool star’s degree of creative brilliance, but it still serves as evidence of his talent.

Liverpool seems not to miss Kent, as they have performed admirably since his departure. However, it is encouraging to see the improvement in talent that has come from the club’s academy in recent years, as stars like Jack Harrison, Raheem Sterling, and Anthony Gordon have all enjoyed success in the Premier League after having played for the team in their formative years.

Although Kent’s inventiveness is commendable, he is not Alexander-Arnold, and Liverpool should be grateful that the 25-year-old was given the time and resources necessary to develop into the player he is today.