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Why Martim Fernandes Could be the Heir to Trent’s Throne at Liverpool

May 5, 2025
Player Analysis, Primeira Liga Analysis

Liverpool have pulled off two vital pieces of business by signing Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to new contracts, with the veteran duo entering the final months of their deals before finally extending their time at Anfield through 2027. However, they haven’t been quite as lucky with Trent Alexander-Arnold.

 

After a legendary spell at Liverpool that has seen him win the Premier League and Champions League and establish himself as one of the greatest right backs of his generation, Alexander-Arnold has confirmed his decision to leave Anfield on a free transfer with Real Madrid being heavily linked.

 

Replacing the 26-year-old Englishman is an unenviable task, considering the legacy he was destined, promised and encouraged to forge, emulating former Liverpool greats as recent as Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher – without even mentioning his influence for Arne Slot’s side, where he is fundamental in construction phases and overall ball progression, dictating proceedings with pinpoint, otherworldly vision and passing.

 

Alexander-Arnold is currently irreplaceable; however, no individual is irreplaceable. Both the Liverpool system and overall expectations will have to suffer, but with patience, there is sufficient talent to transition from existing dependence. Martim Fernandes is the best of both worlds, with Trent Alexander-Arnold-esque characteristics and the high ceiling necessary to justify the long-term investment.

 

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Futebol Clube do Porto and their world-renowned Olival academy have created another world-class talent, while Slot and Michael Edwards must manage multiple priorities to reinforce in the coming transfer window. This is why Martim Fernandes is the solution.

 

The Lowdown

 

Martim Fernandes seems capable of this monstrous transition and lofty demands due to his apparent composure, intelligence and overall maturity, wise beyond his years, masking his premature age for the levels he demonstrates. The 19-year-old Valongo native has risen through the historic Olival academy over the last two seasons, receiving minutes amidst this current turbulent transitional season for the historic European cornerstone.

 

Martim debutised in the UEFA Youth League at 15 years of age, rapidly transforming into an integral cog of the side, which reached the semi-finals, appearing in eight competitive encounters. His senior debut came in 2022 at the age of 16, facing Covilhã in the Portuguese Second Division for Porto B. Martim has approximately 70 matches of senior football experience despite his tender age, perhaps justifying his seasoned professional nature.

 

His first start for Porto? Facing Sporting Clube de Portugal in the sold out Estádio do Dragão with the mission of delaying the inevitable green and white trophy lift. Martim naturally relished the context most would cower in, assisting Pepê for Porto’s second goal on the way to guaranteeing his side one point in the ‘Clássico’ they could not lose.

 

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The Portuguese youth international would face Sporting Clube de Braga as a starter before encountering Boavista in the ‘Dérbi da Invicta’, preparing himself for the closing stages in the Final of the Taça de Portugal, which guaranteed him his first senior trophy against Sporting – all of this underlining how Martim relishes the biggest stages.

 

His immediate success on the pitch in the most demanding contexts of Portuguese football led ‘The Guardian’ to name Martim Fernandes as one of the 60 most promising youngsters of his generation, as well as being named the Revelation Athlete of the Year by his beloved club in the ‘Dragões de Ouro’ ceremony.

 

Fernandes’ transition into senior football was seamless, speaking volumes for his maturity and competitive mentality, advancing unfazed. Porto have transitioned to André Villas-Boas from Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, the most successful president in world football history, so needless to say that Porto are familiar with and demanding of immediate success – at Liverpool, he would face this pressure and scrutiny at an exponentially magnified level, but given his track record, he has the character to adapt and overcome.

 

Martim would be nurtured by Arne Slot, the man who reached the UEFA Europa Conference League final in 2021/22 with third-youngest squad in Eredivisie, building the reputation of protecting and empowering youth. Couple this philosophy with unease surrounding more experienced alternatives, such as Jeremie Frimpong and his suitability to adapt from the Leverkusen system to the Liverpool four-man defence, and suddenly this solution, supported by the presence of Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez, makes sense.

 

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These alternatives will be required regardless, Martim has missed nine matches this season due to injury, where Porto only managed to win on two occasions in his absence. Somewhat concerning as Liverpool regularly suffer from absences on the defensive front.

 

This unflappable character transcends into his playing style, as Martim remains calm and composed in all sectors while some feel the occasion, rush proceedings, force the final ball and become conquered by emotion.

 

His decision-making in the final third is actually one of his greatest strengths – racking up five assists and averaging an impressive 0.31 Expected Assists per 90 in the Portuguese top-flight. For context, Alexander-Arnold has averaged 0.28. These are truly elite numbers, not to be undervalued.

 

 

Couple this with his 2.15 long passes completed, 1.75 chances created, 1.28 (35.1%) successful crosses, 6.3 progressive passes, 1.59 (60.6%) dribbles completed and 2.23 touches in the opposition box per 90, and you have an extremely efficient outlet to replicate some of the work Trent Alexander-Arnold was notorious for, but also extend upon it as Martim is more versatile to accompany and support Mohamed Salah.

 

Martim sits behind only Desiré Doué in Europe’s Top 7 Leagues among U21s for key passes per 90. He is unique and elite in creating simple, minimal separation with sufficient, intelligent body shifts to dispatch perfect service for relatively underperforming counterparts in the north of Portugal.

 

No Porto player has created more big chances from open play than Martim, despite competing alongside Portuguese international João Mário, Arsenal’s Fábio Vieira, wonderkid Rodrigo Mora, Brazilian forward Pepê, and Wenderson Galeno who departed in January.

 

 

His offensive output is often comparable to top-tier attackers, not defenders. Martim Fernandes is a top-tier offensive full-back prospect, make no mistake.

 

(Ocasiões flagrantes criadas = Big chances created)

 

His weight of pass, crossing ability and reading of the game are incredible, especially for his age group. Martim is as capable at providing magnificent, whipped crosses as he is playing between the lines and placing delicate, rupturing passes.

 

His one offensive drawback is his (lack of) shot selection. Seven shots in 19 appearances demonstrate that Martim is averse to taking on the responsibility and sees the shot as last resort. The shot should become a possibility, even if not dependable and overly assertive in comparison to his other attributes, despite its slight irrelevance.

 

None of this offensive potency comes at the detriment of physicality. His 1,81m slimmer frame is an illusion as Martim Fernandes is a powerful, relatively rapid runner with long, intense strides and intelligent movement. An incredible archetype for rupturing, progressive, direct ball-carrying, both down the flank and inverting apparent technical ability and comfortability.

 

Consider Mohamed Salah’s preferred role as an inside forward, vying for vacated space to operate for maximum efficiency, Martim is the archetype necessary to create an ideal partnership where he is not depended upon for creativity, glued to the touchline.

 

While Conor Bradley is equally energetic and perhaps more accurate in ground and aerial duels, Martim has the ability to sit in central zones – opening possibilities in an era appreciative of versatility. Martim often creates triangles and enjoys fluid, short, technical combinations with counterparts, adapting and breaking the opposition press with ease. Fernandes is suited to this dominant, possession-heavy, high-intensity style with recourse to quick transitional play, as seen in his stellar display vs. Manchester United.

 

 

Fernandes also shows strong defensive instincts, as an aggressive customer in anticipation. His schooling in Porto’s rigid, disciplined systems means that he is, at the minimum, defensively aware and is unlikely to be caught out of possession as frequently as his counterparts or alternatives. His usage of his weak foot and heading is satisfactory if unimpressive.

 

His 5.5 duels (50.4%), 55% tackles and 3.43 ball recoveries don’t set the world alight, however, his limited sample size and presence in a possession-heavy back five against weak Liga Portugal opposition justify lower numbers which are inflated by relegation candidates facing onslaughts, forced into never-ending defensive actions.

 

On his debut against the Sporting side, which amassed 90 points in 34 league matches, Martim Fernandes contributed with the following numbers:

 

  • 1 assist
  • 2/3 completed dribbles
  • 2 completed crosses
  • 4 passes into the final third
  • 2/3 tackles completed
  • 3 interceptions
  • 3 clearances
  • 4 ball recoveries
  • 5 duels won

 

The ability is there. The final-third efficiency is there. The ball progression is there. The crossing ability is there. The defensive awareness is there. The energetic, powerful running style is there. The potential for tactical flexibility is there.

 

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As long as there are no ill-conceived notions that Martim Fernandes can be Trent, Liverpool can become more versatile and search for a wider range of solutions long-term, while maintaining adapted yet similar high levels of creation and efficiency offensively from the right-flank. A reformulation of Liverpool’s construction and dictation will be necessary as well as multiple reinforcements.

 

Whilst there’s still plenty of room for improvement at 19 years of age, all signs point to Martim Fernandes becoming one of the most complete right backs in world football and forming a lethal full back duo with Nuno Mendes in Portugal’s backline. And with a contract that’s set to expire in 2028, it’s seemingly only a matter of time before he follows in the footsteps of Nico González, Evanilson and Fábio Vieira and becomes the latest player to trade the Dragão for the Premier League.

 

By: Kevin Araujo Fernandes / @kevinaraujof

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / NurPhoto

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