Side blow against Jürgen Klopp? Liverpool star makes people sit up and take notice
Liverpool (England) - After nine years and 491 games, Jürgen Klopp (57) was finished at Liverpool FC; the 57-year-old vacated his post as head coach of the Premier League club at the end of the season in June 2024. After his departure, Arne Slot (46) took over as coach, much to the delight of England international Trent Alexander-Arnold (25).
The 25-year-old clearly thinks highly of his new coach and was full of praise for the Dutchman after the commanding 3-0 home win against AFC Bournemouth: "It's really refreshing to have a coach who helps me, who guides me and who teaches me how to improve as a player," said the Reds star.
These are statements that leave room for interpretation - and can also be interpreted as a dig at his former coach.
Remarkable words, given that the right-back made his professional debut under Klopp's direction in 2016 and went on to become a world-class defensive player in the years that followed.
A collaboration that was crowned with success - at least on the pitch: in 2019, both lifted the Champions League trophy into the Madrid night sky, followed by the Premier League title just one year later.
Liverpool pro Trent Alexander-Arnold has big plans! Transfer to Real Madrid?
Alexander-Arnold does not yet appear to be at the peak of his creative powers and wants to continue to develop: "I said to him [Slot, editor's note] that I want to be the defender that nobody in Europe wants to play against. We agreed that he would be strict with me. Every time an attacker comes past me, I want him to bring it up in meetings and tell me in a personal conversation that it's not allowed."
Alexander-Arnold's contract with the Reds runs until the summer of 2025, but an extension has not yet been agreed.
His future at Anfield Road seems uncertain so far, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano (31), top Spanish club Real Madrid are interested in signing the footballer.
However, he himself had already declared that he would stay with the Reds for at least another year. "I've been at the club for 20 years now, I've signed four or five contract extensions and none of them have been out in the open and this one won't be either," Alexander-Arnold told the British daily newspaper "The Guardian". So it will be interesting to see where and how things go from here for the footballer.