ESPN Brasil is featuring today an exclusive interview they’ve managed to have with Liverpool fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold.
In a short chat the 22-year-old had with reporter Natali Gedra, he spoke a little about the impact he’s been having in his role and his recent form for the Reds.
First talking about the difference in the way fullbacks are now seen in the Premier League, Alexander-Arnold admits that he and Andy Robertson had a big influence on that.
“I’d say a lot more technical. I think I have impacted how numbers are probably integrated into that role now, I think. A lot of fullbacks now are getting judged how many assists and goals and goal contributions they’re getting”, Alexander-Arnol told ESPN Brasil.
“I can’t just take all the credit for it. I have to give a lot to Robbo too. He’s really pushed me and I’ve obviously pushed him too to set these records and set these high standards for everyone else in the fullback role, and that’s what I’m going to keep doing. I suppose it’s not about change in the role and how it’s thought about. It’s about making sure we’re as good as we can be for the team and helping us win games and that means get an assistant and goals, that’s what it means.”
Then asked about his improvement, Alexander-Arnold admitted he’s not having a great season for Liverpool, and added he’s more focused on the collective job.
“Probably it’s been a spell of bad form that I haven’t had before. So it’s new. But I think really, for me, I set targets in levels and I have expectations in myself. If I don’t meet them then and I’m not happy. I want to be better than I am. I haven’t been able to meet them so far this season but we’ve only just passed the halfway stage, so there’s still a long way to go.
“Well, I just had three games where I felt better, felt in a little bit more of a rhythm. Being able to create things for the team and feel like I’ve been the last few seasons so I supposed that’s ok, but… Like I mentioned earlier. Individually that doesn’t really matter to me as much as winning games. I’d have 38 bad games in the season, if that meant winning every single game… So I wanna perform as well as I can and help the team win. Because that’s the man thing that matters.”
With one goal and five assists in 26 matches so far, the fullback is indeed looking unlikely to reach the stats he had in his previous two years.
Currently fourth on the Premier League table, Liverpool now prepare for a tough challenge against Leicester City at the weekend.
The Reds then switch to the Champions League, where they’re facing RB Leipzig for the round-of-16, travelling all the way to Budapest because of Covid restrictions.
