Trent Alexander-Arnold has spoken about his preferred position, Liverpool’s new signings and their aims ahead of the new season.
Towards the back end of the 22/23 season, Alexander-Arnold was deployed in a different role within the Liverpool team as Jurgen Klopp decided to use him further up the pitch amid concerns over his defensive performance.
The Englishman produced a string of impressive performances in his new role and there have since been talks about whether he is more suited as a right-back or as a midfielder.
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Speaking exclusively to SPORTbible at the Under Armour training camp in Portland, Alexander-Arnold revealed that the speculation about his position does not affect him.
He said: “It’s something that I’m used to. It’s part of the game, it’s part of the job, it’s something that happens week in and week out.
“So, whether it’s good or bad I still know I’ve got a job to do out there and that’s what I aim to do on a daily basis and every time I play a game.”
Alexander-Arnold went on to disclose what manager Klopp said to him regarding his positional change.
“Just to get on the ball, don’t be afraid to make mistakes,” the 24-year-old began to explain.
“Initially, it was kind of play it how you feel it has to be played and figure it out and we’ll work on it from there.
“It was just getting used to it, feeling what I needed to feel like, understanding it and from there, it was a lot of information about different movements, different positions, how you deal with certain parts of the game, being man marked and losing the marker and creating space for others.”
Alexander-Arnold added: “There were a lot of questions involved and a lot of information but it’s something I’m enjoying learning about.”
Ultimately, Alexander-Arnold sees himself as both a right-back and a midfielder, stating that he will happily play wherever the manager wants him to.
He said: “I think I’m able to play both positions. I won’t say I see myself as either, I’d say both.
“Wherever the manager wants to play me, I’m able to play so yeah.”
During the summer transfer window, Liverpool have signed Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig.
Alexander-Arnold expressed his excitement over the chance of playing in the same team as the new arrivals.
On Szoboszlai, Alexander-Arnold said: “I think he’ll suit the system, he’s someone that is versatile, able to make things happen, he’s a good player and a really good signing.”
In terms of Mac Allister, the Liverpool man spoke about his experience of playing against the Argentine.
He said: “Last season he gave us a lot of problems when we played against him. How smart he is, how intelligent he is.
“Watching him at the World Cup and seeing how good he was, so he’s someone who’s going to bring a lot to the team and technically outstanding so it’d be good to be on the same team as these boys.”
After what was a bitterly disappointing 22/23 season, Alexander-Arnold is determined to take Liverpool back to glory.
He added: “We want to win the league again, we want to be lifting trophies.
“I think last season was disappointing not to be able to do that but we’re a team that needs to be challenging for a lot of trophies so I would say the biggest aim is to win trophies again.”
Alexander-Arnold is part of a star-studded line-up for Under Armour’s new ‘Protect This House’ campaign, which is to create the ‘Ultimate Team Talk’.
On what appealed to him about the campaign, Alexander-Arnold said: “I think it was just the idea of it is exciting, you know when someone says it’s the Ultimate Team Talk, I’m thinking that’s gonna be pretty special.
“It is something that I’m excited about and I’m excited for what it will be.”
We were speaking to Trent Alexander-Arnold at Under Armour’s Human Performance Centre in Portland where he was taking part in a pre-season training camp. Trent features in Under Armour’s new Protect This House campaign. Under Armour has used generative AI technology to create the "Ultimate Team Talk," a motivational speech that is scientifically proven to be the most effective of all time. See www.underarmour.co.uk for more details.
Topics: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Football, England
Marcus Chan