Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has responded to critics of Trent Alexander-Arnold following his side’s win at Arsenal on Wednesday night.
Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino scored in quick succession midway through the second half to give Jurgen Klopp 's side a priceless three points in the title race away at the Gunners. The result takes the Reds to within just one point of Manchester City, who were held to a scoreless draw at Crystal Palace on Monday night.
The main threat for Mikel Arteta’s side throughout the clash against the Reds was Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli, who played on the left-hand side of his team’s attack. He enjoyed an impressive match with direct dribbling and running at the visiting side’s defence.
While Arsenal failed to score during the game, Martinelli was a constant thrown in Liverpool ’s side and often got the better of Reds full-back Alexander-Arnold. The England international’s attacking qualities are without question, yet there have been suggestions he is not the side’ strongest defensive-minded player.
Yet Klopp told Skysports after Wednesday night’s match: “If anybody says that Trent cannot defend then they can come to me and I'll knock them down. I cannot hear that any more, I don't know what more the boy has to do.
“Obviously both teams had spells of possession where the other team was patient and didn't want to step out, but we had to. Trent did exceptionally well against Gabriel Martinelli.”
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That was the German coach doubling down on comments earlier this month on the 23-year-old’s defensive play, when asked if he understood why it would attract scrutiny: “Absolutely, I don’t understand that, that’s true, but I don’t think I will change that with whatever I will say. But if he couldn’t defend, he would not play here – at least not that in that position.
“He improved in all departments and defending of course as well, but he is that young that he can improve and has to improve, but yes, his defending is not a problem we have. When you see him playing I think we help him a little bit with positioning and stuff like this.
“We try to bring him into positions, formation-wise, where he can be that influential but of course it’s all about him and his skill-set and his quality and his right foot and his overview. That’s it, that he is really in the situation and focused to set up goals in these moments, that he knows where are the dangerous situations and positions in the opposition box or around that and really tries to bring the ball there.”
Wednesday night was the third time Alexander-Arnold had faced Martinelli this calendar year, following on from the two legs of the EFL Cup semi-final in January.
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