Trent Alexander-Arnold, 24, is preparing to lead the team at Anfield this weekend, and Jurgen Klopp has hailed him for his “super” response to Virgil van Dijk’s dismissal against Newcastle.
At St. James’ Park, Liverpool was reduced to 10 men in less than 30 minutes after Van Dijk’s challenge on Alexander Isak was assessed to have prevented a goal-scoring opportunity.
Van Dijk’s replacement after being fired was Alexander-Arnold, who had been named the team’s vice-captain over the summer.
The 24-year-old experienced a tumultuous beginning to the game himself as he avoided receiving a second caution for a challenge on Anthony Gordon after five minutes.
Klopp acknowledged that he thought about taking his right-back out of the scenario during the first half, but the player handled the difficulty well.
“I imagine a lot of people would have wondered—and I did for a brief moment—if we should change him. Do we already need to update that? The boss said, “And I’m extremely delighted that I didn’t do it.
We can all agree that, other from the Liverpool supporters, everyone else in the stadium wanted him to be the next person to be killed, and I’m very sure that would have happened if Trent had given anyone the chance to do so.
Due to Van Dijk’s absence due to suspension, Alexander-Arnold will lead the team at Anfield for the first time this weekend when Aston Villa comes to town.
Alexander-Arnold’s performance at Newcastle was a “big step in his development,” according to Klopp, and he expects it to be a “honour” for him to captain the team on Sunday.week
He continued, “To preserve his composure and even to rise up in the game, because he was truly in it, was a major step in his development.”I find it challenging to consider myself in that [captaincy] circumstance. I recall when I was captain that it was more labour than honour, but I imagine it would be a huge honour for him. Thank God he got to practise it last week.
