Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed one of the rules that Arne Slot has implemented since taking over at Liverpool.
The Dutchman was named as the Reds’ first ever head coach this summer, joining the club from Feyenoord as a replacement for Jurgen Klopp following the German’s decision to step down as manager after nine years at Anfield.
Slot has enjoyed a strong start at Liverpool after leading his side to victory in their opening two games of the Premier League season away at Ipswich Town and at home to Brentford.He will face his sternest test yet on Sunday though, when the Reds travel to bitter-rivals Manchester United in their final game before the September international break.
Alexander-Arnold, who is out of contract next summer, has started both matches under the Dutchman so far, despite only reporting back for pre-season at the start of August following his exploits for England at Euro 2024.However, the defender made headlines after his reaction to being substituted in Liverpool’s win over Brentford.
He was visibly annoyed, both on the bench and after the final whistle, as Slot spoke to him in the dugout following his 73rd minute withdrawal.The Dutchman would later play down any suggestion of a rift with his vice-captain as he explained his reasoning for the decision.
Alexander-Arnold is expected to retain his starting berth against Manchester United at Old Trafford. And ahead of the game, the 25-year-old has opened up on adjusting to the changes Slot has implemented at Liverpool since replacing Slot.
I think we’re full of confidence,” he said. “Obviously big changes happened for us in the summer and then a few of us were late back in.“But we’re getting to grips with the new style, the new way the manager wants us to play and transitioning into a new Liverpool really.“I think it’s going well so far. There’s a lot we can still improve on, and I’m sure the manager thinks the same and us players equally so.
For us, it’s about carrying momentum. We have self-belief, we’re confident in ourselves and the way that we play. Two really good games and two wins, so we need to keep that going.”Having opened the season with back-to-back clean sheets, the Reds are looking stronger defensively in contrast to their record at the back during Klopp’s final two campaigns in charge.
Conceding that Liverpool’s defensive record needs to be the best in the league to give them the best chance of winning the Premier League this season, Alexander-Arnold revealed that Slot has demanded all his players pull their weight defensively if they want to play for the Dutchman.
That’s one of the rules that the manager brought in,” he told the club website when asked about the Reds’ hunger to defend and their forwards tracking back. “If you don’t comply to those rules, you won’t play – it’s as simple as that.“It’s not just about defenders defending [and] the attackers just watch us defend. It’s a whole team thing.
I think the counter-attacks that we’ve potentially been exposed to, we’re able to slow them down and get numbers behind, we’re blocking shots and we’re stopping them from creating anything dangerous.
That’s down to the work ethic and it’s what’s demanded.“I think if you look at the teams that have been successful in the previous years – including ourselves – it’s been of course we’re a team that can play football and be really exciting at times, but it’s the other end of the pitch that ultimately does win you the league.
Normally the team that concedes the least amount of goals or the least amount of big chances will have a really good chance of winning the league.”
