Jurgen Klopp: I know Trent Alexander-Arnold better than any coach, and he is world class | Football news

Trent Alexander-Arnold responded to his critics following his recent snub to England with an excellent display in Liverpool’s 3-0 win at Arsenal on Saturday Night Football.

The right-back, who was on the Premier League Team of the Year last season for title winners Liverpool, was left out of Gareth Southgate’s team for recent internationals following a drop in form this season for Jurgen’s team. Klopp.

But he reacted on Saturday with an unplayable cross for Diogo Jota’s opener in the second half, putting on an all-round impressive display as Liverpool began their late charge for the top four.

Here’s what his manager and Sky Sports experts had to say about the 22-year-old right-back as he looks to get back to Southgate’s plans for Euro 2020.

Klopp: I know Trent, and he’s world class

Jurgen Klopp on Sky Sports:

“Trent Alexander-Arnold showed his class, again. I don’t want to have another discussion about Trent or things like that. I said it was Gareth [Southgate’s] decision.

“He’s especially blessed with the choice he has in that position, but Trent is in good shape. If someone says no, then I have to say they are wrong, that’s all. But I’m not responsible for [Southgate’s] decisions “.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Klopp also said: “[Trent was] outstanding. When you play a game like the one Trent played tonight, when you’re fully in the game, just concentrating on the important things in the game, then he can do these kinds of things. Tonight he had an exceptionally good game.

“I am not criticizing Gareth Southgate, and I do not want to have a discussion, I respect his role and his decisions. But I know the player better than anyone, any other coach, and I can say that he is a world.” class player, and not just offensively.

“Does he always have a world-class performance? No. I don’t know of any player who is doing that, but it is his potential.”

When asked if the rest of the last two weeks helped, Klopp said: “100 percent. He didn’t get much rest because we trained very intensely with the guys, but I’m sure the things we did in training helped him.” . If you play three times in 10 days, there is not much time to train. “

Richards: is the best right-back in England

Former Manchester City right-back Micah Richards on Sky Sports:

“Look at the cross, it gives you enough power so that Jota doesn’t have to produce a bullet header.

“If you saw him throughout the game, he was always in these positions. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang couldn’t deal with him, playing a role that didn’t suit him. But, it’s all about the cross.

“I’ve been talking about Trent for so long. I think he’s still the best right-back in England. This is what he offers, that pointy cross. He can wrap his foot around them, he can cut them and he’s got absolutely everything for a fullback today. day.

“I was disappointed not to see him in Gareth Southgate’s team because he went to a Champions League final and won a Champions League. He has created the most opportunities against Arsenal and also in the last two games. He is coming back to his game. best level.

“We all know that he is not the best on defense, but in the future he brings a lot to this Liverpool. A lot of people like to talk, but moving forward is the positive part of his game. When he does that, there is no one.” Better than him.

“He’s never going to be a great one-on-one defender like Aaron Wan-Bissaka because that’s not his role, but what he can do, you see Dani Alves and what he used to do, just get really tight and push as soon as possible. You possibly can and don’t give the extreme time to think about what you want to do.

“As soon as he can put that into his game, he will be back in the England team, without question.

“It’s difficult because Liverpool play very high. You’re always going to leave holes behind and when you have Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez’s pace, they can fix that. He has to change his game from what he’s used.” and that can take time. Not only was he playing badly, he was the whole team.

“Everyone is talking about Trent this and Trent that, it’s the whole team. Now you see Fabinho back there and he gives them the license to move on and we’ve seen the best of Trent again.

“Three to six months of a bad season does not make you a bad player, he deserves to be there for England.”

Redknapp: will become a better player after snub

Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports:

“He’ll probably become a better player after this because every player has a moment in his career where he suffers from lack of form.

“I’ve noticed this year that there has been a big drop in terms of his defensive responsibilities. I’ve seen him move forward fast and not back down fast enough.

“The biggest beneficiary of this will be Jurgen Klopp because there is no doubt that he will not be happy with his performances. After the game against Chelsea, he left him out against Fulham, so he cannot have been very happy.”

“But now, he will get an even better Alexander-Arnold in the future because he will learn from this. He will become a better player. He has all the attributes.”

“If England plays with three defenders, maybe you could say that Reece James plays with three defenders for Chelsea. But if England plays with four defenders, he is still our best right-back. He’s one of the best right-backs in the world.

“He’s down, but you have to stick with him. You have to give him confidence and I have no doubt that he will come back. But he needed a kick in the back because he wasn’t in shape. It wasn’t good enough.

“It will come back and it will be even better and it could be what I needed because sometimes in football you need a reality check.

“I just don’t think England can say we have a good enough team to shut out Trent Alexander-Arnold, and he will prove it. He has the bite between his teeth and you can see he wants it right now, and he’s going to be better with that. “

Whats Next?

Arsenal now host Slavia Prague in their Europa League quarter-final first leg at 8pm on Thursday, before going to Sheffield United at 7pm on Sunday in the Premier League.

Liverpool will go to Real Madrid at 20:00 on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final and then host Aston Villa at 15:00 on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Premier League.