21 May 2023 , 14:03
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Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed that Jurgen Klopp gave him just one day to prepare for his eye-catching new role.
The Red academy graduate has seen his position change slightly over the closing weeks of the season. Without the ball, Alexander-Arnold has been deployed in his regular right-back berth but with it has drifted slightly further forward to support midfield.
That decision from Jurgen Klopp appears to have garnered rewards. Since mid-April, the defender has six assists to his name, whilst he was also on the scoresheet with a stunning effort in the win over Leicester earlier this week.
Ahead of Saturday’s draw with Aston Villa, Alexander-Arnold revealed that a brief training ground chat with Klopp saw the idea come about. Speaking to The Athletic, he said: "We were on the training pitch when the gaffer got out the tactics sheet and showed me it. Everything was normal defensively.
"And then with the ball, he wanted me as a second number six. The idea around it, as it was explained to me, was about improving our inside play. Controlling the centre. Getting an extra player in that area. He trusted me to be able to do what I needed to do to make it work.
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"I was excited. I saw it as an opportunity. It's a position I'd not played before. I just wanted to go out there and prove that I could do it.
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"We couldn't prep much around it if I'm being honest. With it being the day before the game, it was only a brief session. For [the 2-2 draw with] Arsenal specifically, it was a case of trying to learn it as we played it.
"It feels good, it feels natural for me. I feel like I'm able to perform there. I'm able to affect games, change games, and dictate games. I want to keep doing it. I want to help the team to keep winning games.”
Alexander-Arnold has one final chance to impress in his experimental role before the end of the season. Liverpool take on relegated Southampton at St Mary’s on the final day of the campaign.
The Reds still have fleeting hope of securing a place in the Champions League. They have to hope that Manchester United lose their final two games of the campaign to stand any chance of overturning their deficit to the Red Devils.
Liverpool can still also overtake Newcastle before the end of the campaign but Eddie Howe’s men will secure their Champions League place should they secure a point against Leicester on Monday evening. The Reds haven’t finished outside of the top four since the 2015/16 campaign.