Klopp heaps praise on Arnold ahead of Zaha test
Jurgen Klopp has praised Liverpool’s teenage right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold for his willingness to improve, according to a report on the Liverpool Echo.
Arnold is set for one of his toughest tests of the Premier League season against Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha but Klopp is confident that the rest of the team will help the youngster out.
The Liverpool boss believes that Arnold can look up to midfielder Jordan Henderson as a role model as he looks to improve on what was a fantastic breakthrough season last campaign.
Arnold had difficulties against the tricky Zaha last season but Klopp has been impressed with his eagerness to become better.
When speaking about Arnold’s desire to improve, Klopp said:
In these situations, I’m not a bit in doubt about Trent. I didn’t have to tell him to refocus. He’s very close with Hendo and that’s probably the best advice you can get.
He’s very smart, a very serious football player already. He wants to play, wants to perform, wants to show his best, so there was no need for re-focusing.
Zaha is exceptional, that’s true. If you leave any full-back alone, nobody’s able to defend Zaha, but we will not do that. It’s all part of development. No problem with that. We will not change anything because of an old story last year.
Since then, Trent has improved not only one step but I don’t know how many steps. That doesn’t mean from now on he will only have perfect performances, but it’s all part of his development.
Arnold also burst onto the international scene last season and was part of the England squad that reached the semi-final of the World Cup in Russia over the summer.