Arne Slot explains how he is helping Trent Alexander-Arnold become a better defender
- Trent Alexander-Arnold is getting help from Arne Slot to defend better
- Liverpool right-back is more generally known for his attacking quality
- One major area of improvement has already been identified to work on
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has praised Trent Alexander-Arnold's overall defensive ability but has revealed there is one particular thing he is working on with the right-back.
It comes after Alexander-Arnold had admitted telling Slot of his desire to become "the defender that no-one wants to come up against in Europe", during a chat about individual objectives.
The Liverpool boss was asked about those comments ahead of this week's Carabao Cup third round tie against West Ham United, suggesting it's a matter of focus and holding concentration.
"It's difficult for me to judge how it has been in the years before, but the only thing I know is that we are talking here about a player that won the Champions League and [Premier League] title," Slot said.
"Trent mentioned himself that winning the league is about defending, so it's clear to me that he has been a good defender all his life. But because he is so, so special with the ball, the main emphasis goes to him doing special things with the ball.
"I think with him it is not about if he is capable of doing things, it's more can his concentration rate constantly be in 100 per cent focus. So, this is what we talk about a lot, that he has to stay active in every situation of the game, even if the ball is further away from him.
"But it's not that we or I taught him to defend in the last three months: he's won the league and he's won the Champions League, so it's just getting him to understand all of what is necessary to play the best possible game. That’s what we talk about with all the individuals but also with him."
Alexander-Arnold explained that he wants Slot to be brutally honest and not sugarcoat anything about potential improvements to be made.
"We agreed that he will be harsh on me. If any time an attacker gets past me, he will call it out in meetings and individual meetings and say this cannot happen," the player revealed.
"We go through every game together and he highlights where he wants me to improve. Even in the Milan game, we had about 20 clips going through what I could have done better and the good parts as well. It is really refreshing to have a manager who will help and guide and teach me how to be better as a player. I am someone who wants to learn, someone who strives to be the best ever."
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