Jurgen Klopp Backs Trent Alexander-Arnold Role

Trent Alexander-Arnold was once again the standout performer as Liverpool beat Brentford 1-0 on Saturday. Jurgen Klopp has stuck with the new role for Alexander-Arnold, which sees him start at right-back but drift into midfield in possession. The No. 66 had more touches than any other player (73) and completed the most passes too (49), with only Darwin Nunez’s lack of sharpness denying him a seventh consecutive assist. Klopp was asked whether it was his plan to keep Alexander-Arnold in midfield whenever possible, to which he replied “I think so. Long term, we will see what we can do.” Liverpool are expected to sign as many as three midfielders this summer, however the emergence of Alexander-Arnold as a creative force in the middle of the park may have allowed Klopp to adjust his priorities slightly. Klopp admitted that his players are still getting used to the 3-4-3 formation, and explained that when they lose the ball, Alexander-Arnold has to stay in the centre, meaning whoever plays that position has to cover the space behind him. Despite this, Klopp praised Alexander-Arnold for playing almost all minutes since six or seven weeks in this super-intense period, with games every three days, calling it “outstanding”.