Jurgen Klopp believes Trent Alexander-Arnold has taken the “next step” in his Liverpool development by becoming an Anfield leader. Klopp says a greater responsibility in this Liverpool squad was always going to be the next stage of the 22-year-old’s development and he has been impressed with what he has seen from his right-sided full-back.
Jurgen Klopp said: “That was clear that [leadership] has to come with the quality of the skills of Trent and the potential he has. That must be for him the next step. That is clear. We were talking about that for a while. That must be completely natural. Robbo (Andy Robertson) and Trent in this team are very, very important players and they have to behave, especially in tough moments, like that or they have to be aware of that and they are. That’s good and it is very helpful. Trent made another step in his career definitely. But it was clear it would come because the basis he has is exceptionally good and so it was always clear he would make the next steps and now he made them.”
Victory against Burnley on Wednesday night will move the Reds into the top four ahead of the final game of the season against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday. And after a tough season for the recently-dethroned champions of England, Klopp says he will not admonish any player who is beginning to believe that a place in the top four is Liverpool’s “fate”.
Jurgen Klopp said: “I will not guard against that, no chance, no chance. But don’t we all believe in fate until we realise this time it is not meant to be? This is what it is like as human beings are always like this, we are always believing until we realise it was the wrong moment. There’s no reason for guarding anything. It was a very positive moment [against West Brom] and in this moment it looked like it was meant to be. But if we finish the season now we are fifth so that doesn’t make too much sense. If we keep the points tally we will not even finish the season in fifth. That means there is still a job to do. If it is fate or not we will see after the end of the season.”
The in-form right-back was one of the Reds’ standout players from the 2-1 win over West Brom on Sunday afternoon. It was the defender’s late corner that allowed Alisson Becker to score a dramatic winner and Alexander-Arnold also claimed an assist earlier that week as Liverpool beat Manchester United for the first time at Old Trafford in over seven years. Alexander-Arnold has created five or more chances in Liverpool’s last three Premier League games, becoming the first Reds player to achieve that since Steven Gerrard in October 2010. His performances of late saw him nominated for the Premier League’s Player of the Month for April and the Kirkby Academy graduate has been a key factor behind a late surge for the Champions League spots at Anfield. After seeing his displays come under scrutiny earlier in the season, Alexander-Arnold has excelled in recent weeks as Klopp’s side have won six in an eight-game unbeaten run.
