Arne Slot believes Trent Alexander-Arnold’s record proves he has been a “good defender all his life.”
The Liverpool man is renown as one of the best attacking full-backs in the world but has earned a reputation as being slightly weaker defensively, something Reds boss Slot feels is unfair.
Alexander-Arnold, who is out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season, spoke over the weekend about how he and Slot analyse his performances, and how much he is enjoying working under the Dutchman.
And the praise was replicated this morning when Slot was asked about Alexander-Arnold’s defensive prowess.
He said: “It’s difficult for me to judge how it has been in years before – we are talking here about a player that won the Champions League and a league title. He mentioned himself that winning a league is about defending. It’s clear to me then that he’s been a good defender all his life.
“But because he’s so so special with the ball the main emphasis goes to him doing special things with the ball.”
100 – With today’s assist for Luis Díaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold has now been directly involved in 100 goals as a Liverpool player (19 goals, 81 assists). Visionary. pic.twitter.com/OEfuU3PbU7
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 21, 2024
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Focus still required
Slot did admit that the lapses Alexander-Arnold does have are not down to ability but concentration.
“With him it’s not about if he’s capable of doing things, it’s his concentration rate and being 100 per cent focused,” he added.
“This is what we talk about a lot, that he always has to be active in every situation of the game even if the ball is far away from him. It’s not that he’s learned how to defend in the last three months; he’s won the league and the Champions League.
“It’s just getting him to understand what is necessary for him to play the best possible game and that’s what we talk about with all the individuals but also with him.”
Bromance continues
Alexander-Arnold described Slot’s hands-on approach to player improvement as “refreshing” and the former Feyenoord boss was happy to return the compliments.
“I think we all remember the day that Jurgen [Klopp] left and what that man meant to him,” he said. “So you can assume how good of a relationship the two of them had, so to hear him say this about his new manager is always nice. It’s not always easy to come in and replace a manager like him.
“But it’s the same with Trent as it is with the others, they are get a lot of individual attention to make them better because if they get better then the team does as well.”
