Arne Slot says Trent Alexander-Arnold has all the time been a “good defender” however backed him to get higher if he can enhance on his focus.
The proper-back has stated he welcomes Slot’s criticism, claiming he needs the Dutchman’s assist to change into “the defender that nobody needs to come back up towards in Europe”.
Alexander-Arnold extra usually attracts plaudits for his attacking play, and in Liverpool’s newest win, he reached 100 objective involvements (19 objectives, 81 assists), organising Luis Diaz’s second of their 3-0 win over Bournemouth.
Slot acknowledged how essential Alexander-Arnold’s impression going ahead is, and that he’s more than pleased to assist his defensive facet.
“Yeah, it’s tough for me to guage the way it has been in years earlier than – we’re speaking right here a few participant that received the Champions League and a league title,” Slot stated.
“He talked about himself that profitable a league is about defending. It’s clear to me then that he’s been defender all his life.
“However as a result of he’s so so particular with the ball, the primary emphasis goes to him doing particular issues with the ball. With him, it’s not about if he’s able to doing issues, it’s his focus price and being 100% centered.
“That is what we speak about quite a bit, that he all the time must be energetic in each scenario of the sport, even when the ball is way away from him. It’s not that he’s realized methods to defend within the final three months; he’s received the league and the Champions League!
100 – With at this time’s help for Luis Díaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold has now been straight concerned in 100 objectives as a Liverpool participant (19 objectives, 81 assists). Visionary. pic.twitter.com/OEfuU3PbU7
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 21, 2024
“It’s simply getting him to grasp what is important for him to play the very best sport and that’s what we speak about with all of the people but additionally with him.”
The defensive work put in by Alexander-Arnold is already beginning to present, as he has made the third-most interceptions (31) out of his team-mates, and received possession on 176 events, with solely Alexis Mac Allister (195) bettering that within the Premier League to this point this season.
The 25-year-old has described his new supervisor’s method as “refreshing” after his vibrant begin to life on Merseyside.
When requested how he felt about Alexander-Arnold’s feedback, Slot stated: “I feel all of us keep in mind the day that Jurgen [Klopp] left and what that man meant to him [Trent Alexander-Arnold].
“So, you possibly can assume how good of a relationship the 2 of them had, so to listen to him say this about his new supervisor is all the time good. It’s not all the time simple to come back in and exchange a supervisor like him.
“However it’s the identical with Trent as it’s with the others. They’re getting a variety of particular person consideration to make them higher, as a result of in the event that they get higher, then the staff does as nicely.”
