What Liverpool dressing room thinks about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s new role

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has commented on how the team feels about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s position change in recent weeks.

The right-back’s position has been altered by Jürgen Klopp in recent fixtures, in order to maximize his attacking potential and to mask his defensive deficiencies.

The move has worked relatively well up so far but is very much still a work in progress at this point. The change, initially made for the game against Arsenal, has seen Alexander-Arnold register four assists in three games.

READ MORE: Liverpool faces ultimate test of ‘strange’ secret weapon that even Jürgen Klopp didn’t expect

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news as scouts ‘impressed’ by Chelsea defender and agent arrives for ‘talks’

Following the win against Nottingham Forest, Van Dijk has given some insight into how his teammates feel about Alexander-Arnold’s new role.

“I think [Forest] did quite well today,” Van Dijk said (via the ECHO). “They man-marked Trent, Fabinho and the midfielders generally, so it was quite hard to find them without pressure on them so yes, we have to dictate the play and come across quickly in order to get the ball as well.

“It’s a work in progress but we all like it. We all have to be able to change in times and sometimes Trent has to drop, whereas sometimes he has to go higher.

Sign up for our EXCLUSIVE Liverpool.com newsletter!

If you enjoyed this piece, you’ll love our Liverpool.com newsletter — every weekday, we send exclusive, bonus content only to people signed up for our mailing list!

Our newsletter subscribers get a rundown Monday to Friday from one of the best Liverpool FC writers — straight to your inbox, and completely for free.

Wherever you are in the world — in the US, the UK or further afield — you don’t want to miss out.

Sign up to the Liverpool.com newsletter here — it only takes a few seconds!

“Other players then have to drop, so we keep working on it and I think the manager has been saying it many times with the counter-pressing, everyone comes across, makes the pitch as small as possible and we have a big chance to win it back if we lose it. Everyone has to feel the freedom in possession to feel important, so that is what we have to do.

“It’s not only Trent; it’s a bit of a snowball effect. Everyone can find spaces as well and it’s about finding the right position or player to move and I think Trent is getting into that role as well. So like I said, it’s a work in progress to be confident and keep working for the remaining games. So now we need to keep it going and stay confident.”

Liverpool.com says: Alexander-Arnold’s position change has been a success so far, and the key will be that it continues to do so from now until the end of the season. Then, ahead of next season, both Jürgen Klopp and Alexander-Arnold can work on refining the role in pre-season, with the hope of seeing him at his best throughout 2023/24.