Celtic have a number of talented players in their squad at their disposal.
The strength-in-depth Brendan Rodgers has built over the last two seasons has increased Celtic’s gap to Rangers to a level most fans have not seen in quite some time.
The Celtic manager has added the likes of Arne Engels, Auston Trusty, Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan to the Hoops first-team squad this season to strengthen the Parkhead club.
But it seems that it is a player that Ange Postecoglou signed who is being touted as a ‘better defender’ than Liverpool’s Real Madrid-linked star Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Photo by Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Photo by Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Peter Grant says Celtic hero Alistair Johnston is ‘better’ than Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold
Peter Grant was speaking about Alistair Johnston’s impact at Celtic this season when he said that if it came to a choice of choosing between the Hoops fullback and Alexander-Arnold to get a league title win over the line, there really is no choice.
Grant told The Go Radio Football Show [20m], “If I ask you that question, Rob, then, on that, Stephen’s [McGinn] made a good point about the Premier League. I always think then, who are they playing against?
“So, if I say to Trent-Alexander, at the top team now in Liverpool, talking about going to Real Madrid, who do you think is a better defender? Trent-Alexander or Alistair Johnston?
“There’s your first question, and I think Alistair Johnston is a better defender. Better defender. That’s what I’m saying.
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“A better defender, all day long. If I was saying I need a clean sheet to win this game, for us to win the league, and it’s between Trent-Alexander and Alistair Johnston. Who would I be putting it right back if I needed that clean sheet to win that game?
“All day long, Alistair Johnston.”
Alistair Johnston’s Celtic stats vs Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold
So to test Grant’s theory, 67 Hail Hail has taken a look at both players’ stats in the Scottish Premiership and the Premier League to see who comes out on top.
Player Ball recoveries Tackling success Duels won Aerial Duels won Passing accuracy Goals Assists
Alistair Johnston 86 66.7& 56% 55.8% 86.9% 4 7
Trent Alexander-Arnold 118 68.8% 45.1% 20% 77.5% 2 6
Stats from Fotmob
Johnston’s aggression and passion have made him a favourite amongst the fans and looking at his stats, it shows that those qualities do have an impact on his defensive game.
Grant has paid the Celtic defender a high accolade, and it is one that many Celtic fans are likely to agree with.