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Trent-Alexander Arnold appears to have taken a dig at the manager who gave him his debut and made him Liverpool captain
Liverpool captain Trent Alexander-Arnold has praised new head coach Arne Slot, expressing his appreciation for Slot's guidance in helping him improve his defensive skills.
However, his comments have sparked speculation about a possible dig at former boss Jurgen Klopp, hinting at dissatisfaction with his previous development under the German coach.
Trent hails Slot’s impact on his game
Liverpool have been impressive under Slot since he replaced ex-manager Klopp, with the Reds now looking like title contenders yet again this season, despite not adding to their first team squad this summer.
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In a recent interview, Alexander-Arnold revealed his eagerness to grow under Slot’s management, saying, "I said to Arne Slot that I would like to be the defender that no one wants to come up against in Europe."
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He praised the new Liverpool manager for his hands-on approach, adding, “It is really refreshing to have a manager who will help and guide and teach me how to be better.”
Subtle dig at Klopp’s Tenure?
While Alexander-Arnold’s comments praise Slot, they have also been seen in some quarters as a subtle criticism of Klopp’s methods.
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Klopp, who handed Trent his Liverpool debut in 2016 and later made him club captain, was instrumental in shaping the defender’s career.
Despite this, Alexander-Arnold’s remarks imply that he may have felt a lack of detailed coaching in certain areas, particularly defensively, during Klopp's reign.
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The 25-year-old has often been maligned for not being as compact defensively as he is impactful in other areas of the pitch and comments suggest that, under Slot, he is experiencing a new level of guidance, which he did not receive under Klopp.
This is not the first time that a Liverpool player has appeared to sneak a jibe at former manager Klopp after Andy Robertson did something similar while also praising Slot's impact.
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