22 December 2023 , 18:00
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Trent Alexander-Arnold claims Liverpool are bang on where they aimed to be in the title race.
Liverpool head into the with Arsenal to be the Christmas No 1, just a point behind the Gunners and Alexander-Arnold says their goal was to be in contention. Jurgen Klopp ’s Reds could open up a seven-point lead over champions Manchester City if they win at Anfield and Alexander-Arnold is pleased they are in the mix after last season’s poor campaign.
“Our sights going into this season were to be in and around,” he said. “So far we’ve done that. Of those at the top, different teams have different qualities. We all know what City are like. In a couple of weeks they’ll probably click into gear and win every game until the end of the season. So we know that’s coming as usual.
“Arsenal will have learned from the games when they dropped points at the end of last season. For us, it’s about being in and around it, getting in a good position like we are now and staying as close as possible.
"Get through the festive period, get through January and head into the next international break still in a title race. It’s hard to see a finish line right now. We’re creeping towards halfway in the season.”
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Alexander-Arnold is full of respect for Mikel Arteta ’s team and says Arsenal remind him of Liverpool in 2019 when they came from nowhere in the title race to lose to City by a point. The Reds walked the title the following season and Alexander-Arnold feels Arsenal will have learned too from the last campaign.
“One hundred percent,” he said. “They’re a young, exciting team who last year probably lacked experience winning, more than anything. That’s quite similar to what we were in that season when we were pipped to it by City by one point.
“Those experiences teach you a lot, it teaches you how to win. They will be bringing that from last season and it’s showing in their consistency. They deserve to be near the top. So do we. It will be an exciting game.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold insists Liverpool are exactly where they want to be in the title race (Getty Images)Liverpool’s vice-captain Alexander-Arnold is one of their veterans from 2020 and understands his role in giving advice during the highs and lows of a title race.
“I think as hard as it is - and it is very hard - you can’t get too emotional, too excited and too down about results,” he said. "Games come thick and fast. You can flip again like that. A bad result one week may not cost you because the teams around can drop points.
“Just focus on yourselves. That’s the main thing we’ve learned. As long as we’re winning our games it doesn’t really matter what the other teams are doing.
“Everyone will drop points between now and the end of the season and we just have to make sure we’re in the right position and drop the least.”
Alexander-Arnold, 25, will play his hybrid right-back, midfield role against Arsenal and Liverpool have lost just once in the league since he switched to it, ironically against the Gunners at Easter.
“As a team we’ve shown incredible consistency, winning games in different ways,” he said. It’s had a positive impact on all of us - me especially - and I’m sure it will evolve and adapt over time. We’ve just got to keep it going.”