Alexander - Arnold should improve defensively - Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes that Trent Alexander-Arnold has room for improvement in defensive work.

The 23-year-old defender was in Gareth Southgate's squad for the matches against Italy and Germany, but Reece James was preferred to him in both games and the Chelsea defender was included in the starting lineup. Alexander-Arnold has shown great abilities in offensive work and has recorded 45 assists in 167 games for Liverpool, but his defensive abilities have always been questioned. Now, Klopp claimed that the English defender should appear stronger than before in defensive work.

He said:

"I see him differently. People say he's not a good defender. That's not true.

"He is a good defender, but he doesn't always defend good. That's true. That's what we're working on. He's a young player, he's 23, and there's space for improvement definitely.

"We only discuss it on the level we discuss it because his offensive impact is so extreme. Is he always exceptional? No."

Aston Villa striker Gabi Agbanlahor recently claimed that Arnold should retire before being dropped, but Klopp believes that talking about Liverpool's right-back role in England will reduce their chances of winning the World Cup.

He added:

"We can now discuss selections until the World Cup starts. It's one of the reasons why you make massive stories of why the [England] team can't prepare properly," Klopp added.

"If you ask me for my honest opinion, it will create headlines, that's clear. Do you want that? It helps Germany maybe, but not England.

"If you want them to play a good World Cup, then don't cook it too hot. Otherwise, you discuss this until November, and don't let them work properly.

"I think you could see a little bit, England are slightly under pressure because they don't play to their full quality in this moment.

"Let them do the job, and criticise afterwards."

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