Trent Alexander-Arnold has issued an impassioned defence in response to ongoing criticism about his form this season.
The Liverpool defender has admittedly not been at his best this season as Jurgen Klopp ’s side struggled with injuries and consistency. As a result, his place in the England squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has come under question, with even Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate admitting there are a number of players ahead of him in the pecking order at right-back.
And while the 24-year-old is used to critics have an opinion on his defensive attributes, Alexander-Arnold insisted he is just playing how he’s told to at Liverpool and outsiders don’t understand the Reds’ style.
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“I think that's something people don't really understand if I'm honest,” he told Red Bull . “We don't play a normal style of football. When things are going well, people praise it.
“But when things aren't going right (it's), 'They don't defend like they used to' or 'They don't defend like they're supposed to...they're supposed to be doing this, they're supposed to be doing that.’
“But last year, when we nearly won every trophy possible, that wasn't a problem because we were winning games. It was 'Trent's changed the position, he's changed the role. Changed how right-backs play the game or full-backs play the game.'
“Now it's like, 'He doesn't defend like a full-back used to or a full-back's supposed to.' Well if I've changed the game, then surely you can't have one without the other.
“As a team, all you can do is play how you're told to play. If that means that people don't understand it and people misconstrue it and don't really understand the way we play down to a tee, then that happens.
“I'm sure I have opinions on players that are told to do certain things in their team that I would say is wrong, but no, the game is the game. As long as everyone's playing how they feel is right, then who are we to all judge?
“I think I've got a good mindset when it comes to it. I've always understood and I've gotten used to it from a young age. People say a lot of things, people talk a lot, people have their own opinions.
“It is what it is and people are entitled to that. I've always just seen it as I know what I need to do and then just get on with it. It's work at the end of the day, it's part and parcel with it.”
Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold also gave his reaction to Jurgen Klopp’s recent red card in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Man City last month. The German was dismissed for his reaction after his side weren’t awarded a free-kick for an apparent foul on Mohamed Salah by Bernardo Silva.
He was fined £30,000 but avoided a touchline ban after The Independent Regulatory Commission ruled Klopp’s conduct had breached FA Rule E3. However, the FA have since announced they will be appealing the decision as they pursue a harsher punishment.
Alexander-Arnold came on as a late-minute substitute for Salah in the game, having only just returned from ankle injury, so was on the sidelines when the Egyptian was fouled and when Klopp responded angrily.
And he’s defended his manager’s reaction when reflecting on the intensity of the encounter.
“That was big. I was watching that game and obviously I was thinking, 'I wish I was playing in it',” he said. “Watching it was crazy. I think that's the only live game I've watched where I've thought, 'Wow, the intensity in that game is ridiculous.'
“There's just the whole collective (with Klopp’s red card). I feel like it was the emotion of the stadium.
“It's not like the whole stadium was like, 'Ah, fair enough. That's not a foul.' And it's just the gaffer who's lost his head and been like, 'That's a foul!'
“I feel everyone felt that way, it was a build-up of decisions not really going our way throughout the game. It gives them a bit more momentum so it was a bit more frustrating. Especially in a big game like that. Every decision is vital.”
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