Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has mentioned he welcomes critcism from supervisor Arne Slot as a way to turn out to be a feared defender in Europe.
The 25-year-old has garnered a repute for his attacking prowess however has additionally been stricken by a much less glittering narrative over the defensive facet of his sport. Nevertheless, talking after Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday, he mentioned he needs Slot to assist him flip that round.
“I mentioned to him [Slot] that I wish to be the defender that nobody needs to return up in opposition to in Europe,” Alexander-Arnold mentioned.
“We agreed that he will probably be harsh on me,” he added. “If any time an attacker will get by me and will get previous me, he’ll name it out in conferences, and particular person conferences, and say this can not occur. We undergo each sport collectively and he highlights the place he needs me to enhance. Even after the Milan sport, we had about 20 clips going by way of what I might have performed higher and the great components as effectively.
“It’s actually refreshing to have a supervisor who will assist and information and train me tips on how to be higher as a participant. I’m somebody who needs to be taught, somebody who needs to be the perfect and somebody who strives to be the perfect ever.”
Alexander-Arnold railed in opposition to the notion that he’s poor at defending, though he admitted it may be laborious to dispel.
“I feel that notion was maybe harsh if I’m sincere,” Alexander-Arnold mentioned. “It was an enormous notion and it was laborious to type of shrug off with only one good defensive sport. However if you put so much collectively… we’ve got had 4 out of 5 clear sheets [in the league], and that’s distinctive from a again line.
“Defences win championships — that’s the outdated saying and being a part of that defence means I’ve obligations to verify my winger does not get a sniff within the sport. I lay targets for each sport, reminiscent of what number of occasions I’m dribbled previous, what number of occasions does he get a cross in, what number of occasions a shot. Then I look again on it.”
Alexander-Arnold registered his first help of the season in opposition to Bournenmouth, with the victory taking the facet to second within the Premier League, only one level behind Manchester Metropolis.