Arne Slot is paying special attention to Trent Alexander-Arnold in the dressing room. The Liverpool right-back had previously made a rather special request. He wanted the Dutch strategist to criticize him, even in front of his teammates.
Alexander-Arnold asked Slot to point out every time he was passed by an opponent and considered it unacceptable. This is a harsh method to help the English star improve. The defender believes Arne Slot can help him achieve this goal with his attention to detail and experience in improving his players.
It is not surprising that attention is on their relationship. Alexander-Arnold has been one of Jurgen Klopp's biggest successes. Klopp has previously decided not to buy a new right-back, having put all his faith in the 1995-born defender. The German has since turned his player into one of the best playmakers in Europe, playing a key role in Liverpool's attacking play.
Notably, in the first three games of the season, Alexander-Arnold was substituted mid-game by Slot. The 25-year-old defender's dissatisfaction with being substituted against Brentford has caused some concern. In addition, the "Three Lions" player only has 1 year left on his contract with Liverpool. Despite rumors of him being able to leave on a free transfer, Alexander-Arnold has affirmed his goal of becoming the most difficult right-back to face in Europe.
This may give the impression that Alexander-Arnold is changing his identity. He is famous for his ability to pass the ball and also for his creative passing duty. Against Bournemouth, with an assist for Luis Diaz, Alexander-Arnold directly contributed to Liverpool's 100 goals (19 goals and 81 assists). This achievement is impressive because he achieved it at a younger age than any player after Steven Gerrard.
Now, Alexander-Arnold is focusing on his defensive ability. The England star felt that Arne Slot's strict and disciplined management helped him improve.
After the discussion, I said I wanted to be the defender that no one wanted to play against in Europe. I want the coach to be more strict. Every time a striker passes me, he should say this in a tactical meeting and criticize me in front of everyone - Alexander-Arnold shared.
The Liverpool right-back has set personal goals for each match, including how many times the opponent passed him, how many times they had the chance to finish or pass the ball. Those are the standards he sets for himself to improve his defense. Alexander-Arnold knows that many people have commented that he is only a good player in attack but very poor in defense.
If Alexander-Arnold is giving Slot and Liverpool a challenge, it is a springboard to help them develop. Klopp has shown his plan for the future by picking Alexander-Arnold as his vice-captain. The 25-year-old star is also very happy with a position on the Kop's staff.
