Arne Slot has insisted Trent Alexander-Arnold is capable of being defensively strong, but only when his “concentration rate” is at the necessary level.
The Liverpool right-back now has 100 goal involvements for the club, with 81 assists and 19 goals to his name, and arguably has the biggest influence in attack of any right-back in world football.
However, it is at the other end of the pitch where Alexander-Arnold has faced questions, with doubts over his defending leaving him behind the likes of Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier in the England pecking order in recent seasons.
Slot, though, has dismissed those concerns, believing there is no weakness as long as Alexander-Arnold remains focused.
"Yeah it's difficult for me to judge how it has been in years before - we are talking here about a player that won the Champions League and a league title,” Slot said.
“He mentioned himself [Trent] that winning a league is about defending. It's clear to me then that he's been a good defender all his life.
"But because he's so so special with the ball the main emphasis goes to him doing special things with the ball. With him it's not about if he's capable of doing things, it's his concentration rate and being 100% focused.
"This is what we talk about a lot, that he always has to be active in every situation of the game even if the ball is far away from him. It's not that he's learned how to defend in the last three months; he's won the league and the Champions League!”
Alexander-Arnold spoke this week about how he has urged Slot to be “harsh” with him, telling the Liverpool manager to call him out when he makes a defensive error or is beaten by an opposition winger.
There has been suggestions earlier this season of a tense relationship between the pair, after the Liverpool star, who is out of contract next summer, appeared to react angrily to being substituted.
However, Alexander-Arnold has spoken glowingly of the impact the Dutchman has already had.
"It is really refreshing to have a manager who will help and guide and teach me how to be better as a player,” he said.
“I am someone who wants to learn, someone who wants to be the best and someone who strives to be the best ever."
Responding to those comments, Slot said: "I think we all remember the day that Jurgen [Klopp] left and what that man meant to him [Alexander-Arnold].
“So you can assume how good of a relationship the two of them had, so to hear him say this about his new manager is always nice. It's not always easy to come in and replace a manager like him.”
