Jurgen Klopp hints he wants Trent Alexander-Arnold to stay a right-back
- Trent Alexander-Arnold impressed in midfield for England in June
- Gareth Southgate & Jurgen Klopp open to exploring it as an option
- But Klopp also now hints he sees player still a long-term right -back
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hinted that Trent Alexander-Arnold will start the 2023/24 season as a right-back, despite the clamour for him to start further up the pitch after impressing as a midfielder for England in Euro 2024 qualifiers last month.
Alexander-Arnold finished last season operating in an inverted full-back role for Liverpool, which sees the right-back or left-back move into the centre of the pitch then their team is in possession.
England boss Gareth Southgate then took that further by starting Alexander-Arnold as an out and out midfielder, wearing the number 10 shirt, for wins over Malta and North Macedonia. Southgate and Klopp each have been open to future midfield starts, but the latter also insists it isn't that simple.
Alexander-Arnold lined up at right-back as Liverpool thrashed Leicester 4-0 in pre-season on Sunday, having earlier spoken about the options for the player.
"After we put him in this flexible role, everyone told us he should play completely in midfield without saying why. It's a completely different position to the one he played last season, or he played for England, because it’s a holding position. You have to organise much more," Klopp explained.
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"Trent can play the position - it depends on who is on the left and right of him.
"We really thought it was a very good and important thing to do this pre-season. [But] we still want to try it with Trent as a right-back again. Then we'll see how we'll start the season."
Despite already signing Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, Klopp has also stressed the importance of recruiting additional midfielders in the wake of Jordan Henderson and soon Fabinho leaving the club - it suggests he doesn't see Alexander-Arnold permanently in that role.
"It’s definitely important to strengthen in midfield," he said. "We have to do something, that is clear. We are working on solutions. First people want changes, now everyone is worrying about the changes. We are really optimistic about it. Excited as well."
As things stand, Liverpool are keen on young Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia and are prepared to offer £45m for the Belgian, having already seen first bid worth £35m plus add-ons be rejected. The Saints, now back in the Championship for the first time in 11 years, are holding out for at least £50m
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