Virgil van Dijk says he has no doubts about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quality and has prompt participant welfare is being forgotten about amid recent criticism.
The Liverpool full-back got here beneath heavy criticism for his defensive efficiency in the 3-3 draw with Brighton on Saturday and his position in the England squad for subsequent month’s World Cup in Qatar has been known as into query.
Van Dijk claims his team-mate is a sufferer of a tradition in the United Kingdom that builds avid gamers up sooner than bringing them down.
Speaking after Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Rangers in the Champions League on Tuesday night time – in which Alexander-Arnold scored a shocking free-kick to open the scoring – the Dutchman mentioned: “We know the quality he has and he showed it again today.
Trent Alexander-Arnold got here beneath hearth after his defensive efficiency in Liverpool’s 3-3 draw towards Brighton ultimate weekend
“But I’ve been in the United Kingdom now for 8, 9 years and everybody right here is excellent to reward a participant very top up to the sky and allow them to fall as laborious as they may be able to.
“That’s what we, as avid gamers, have to maintain. Everyone is speaking about how we must settle for it.
“For him to simply raise on running – now not most effective him however different avid gamers as neatly – maintain it and display response lately is what we want, all people. To do this, I believe it is crucial that we again him and the chief and the membership and the lovers.
“No matter what the outside world will say about him, we always back each other and we know that we are fighting our way back to the consistency we have always been showing over the last couple of years. We’ll get there. I’m confident we’ll all get there.”
The win over Rangers persisted Liverpool’s revival in Europe after dropping their opening crew sport to Napoli 4-1, however they have got now not received a Premier League sport since beating Newcastle 2-1 at Anfield on August 31.
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Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp hopes his aspect’s defensive issues are actually in the back of them after their 2-0 victory over Rangers at Anfield.
While there is not any doubt in Van Dijk’s thoughts concerning the stage Alexander-Arnold, 23, is at, he is aware of the verdict as to his global possibilities lies only at Gareth Southgate’s door.
“We are all struggling,” he added. “Hopefully we get to the point where we are finding our level again. That’s what we all want, that’s what we all work for.
“We all come into coaching, get more potent, get sooner, get well, however it isn’t a snappy repair – it does not paintings like that. If it labored like that, it could be so much more straightforward.
“He [Alexander-Arnold] has been showing it over the last couple of years; he has developed as one of the best right-backs in the country.
“In the top, if he does not make the squad, that is on Southgate. He makes the choices and everybody has to appreciate his choices. The most effective factor he can do is carry out.”
Klopp: Trent has no defensive drawback, the group had a defensive drawback
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Jurgen Klopp mentioned that the device towards Rangers helped Trent Alexander-Arnold, who scored a very good free-kick in Liverpool’s win at Anfield.
Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp additionally lept to Alexander-Arnold’s defence, suggesting there was defensive problems with the group at the complete every now and then this season.
In his post-match press convention at Anfield, he mentioned: “He had a good game, defensively especially, and scored a wonderful goal. I was happy he set it up differently.
“We can’t discuss that each week, however Trent has no defensive drawback, we now have a defensive drawback – with a bit of luck ‘had’ – as a result of our timing used to be now not proper and we take possibility in protecting, everyone is aware of that.
“If the timing is not right, you open gaps, and these gaps are very often behind Trent; not because of him, because of other situations and then he has to track back.
“We weren’t in the very best second and that’s the reason why we adjusted it fairly.”