Liverpool is enduring a tough start to 2022-23 EPL. Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp has been vocal about his unstable midfield and Trent Alexander-Arnold, as he has slammed the latter's defensive work.
English giants Liverpool would be hoping for a quick turnaround to its fortunes in the English Premier League (EPL) 2022-23, having endured a rough start, as it is placed eighth on the table, with a couple of wins, three draws and a defeat. The club's midfield has been lacklustre, which has already been rocked by multiple injuries. Meanwhile, The Reds head coach Jurgen Klopp has called for a robust defensive show and was vocal about English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, hailing him as a great defender, but slamming his irregularity. He feels the Englishman needs to improve for featuring in the starting XI, even for his national side.
🗣️ “I see him differently, that’s clear. There are stories saying he [Trent Alexander-Arnold] is not a good defender. That’s not true.”
Jürgen Klopp on managing Trent Alexander-Arnold following disappointment regarding his England appearances over the past year. pic.twitter.com/LmspbTMnXO
Talking about Alexander-Arnold during the pre-match presser on Friday, Klopp noted, "I see him differently. People say he's not a good defender. That's not true. He is a good defender, but he doesn't always defend well. That's true. That's what we're working on. He's a young player, 23, and there's space for improvement. We only discuss it on the level we discuss it because his offensive impact is so extreme. Is he always exceptional? No."
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🗣️ “For me, he [Trent Alexander-Arnold] is a world class player. If you want them [England] to play a good World Cup, then don’t cook it.”
Jürgen Klopp warned media to not create negative headlines around the England team so close to the FIFA World Cup. 🏴 pic.twitter.com/5hLJ9Znbeh
Explaining Alexander-Arnold's chances in the FIFA World Cup 2022, Klopp reckoned, "We can now discuss selections until the World Cup starts. It's one of the reasons why you make massive stories of why the [England] team can't prepare properly. If you ask me for my honest opinion, it will create headlines, that's clear. Do you want that? It helps Germany maybe, but not England," added Klopp, reports FotMob.
🗣️ “If you ask me for my honest opinion, it will create headlines. You want that? It helps Germany maybe, but it doesn’t help England. I don’t know why we do that.”
Jürgen Klopp responds to a reporter asking about Trent Alexander-Arnold not being picked for England. pic.twitter.com/o378wEr6s6
"If you want them to play a good World Cup, then don't cook it too hot. Otherwise, you discuss this until November and don't let them work properly. I think you could see a little bit. England is slightly under pressure because it doesn't play to its full quality now. Let them do the job and criticise afterwards," Klopp concluded.