Jurgen Klopp can laugh but Trent Alexander-Arnold's glaring Liverpool issue remains on show
Jurgen Klopp laughed off questions over Trent Alexander-Arnold's defending during his Liverpool tenure - and still does - but his issues remain and were exposed at Nottingham Forest
by Andy Dunn · The MirrorAs he officially began his new, lucrative, slightly bizarre gig at a media bash out in Austria a few hours before kick-off at the City Ground, Jurgen Klopp was asked about Trent Alexander-Arnold.
And he was as exasperated as he was on countless occasions during his time at Anfield when asked about the Liverpool right-back’s defending.
“I can’t believe that you all discuss this still,” he half-laughed and half-chastised.
It is still discussed because it is still an issue. And it is an issue that is exaggerated because the player has put a spotlight on himself by not committing his future to Liverpool. Simple as that.
Against counter-attacking Nottingham Forest, Alexander-Arnold did not have any sort of shocker.
He was not painfully exposed in the way he was by Manchester United recently - indeed, he did not have an awful lot of defending to do.
But Chris Wood’s first half goal came from a move down Alexander-Arnold’s flank and Callum Hudson-Odoi embarrassed him in one particular moment.
Normally, those types of things would not be talking points but Alexander-Arnold has turned them into talking points.
The scrutiny on the three mainstays of this Liverpool team who are out of contract at the end of the season has not been a distraction for Arne Slot because his team have been sweeping all before them.
But if things do not go so swimmingly, that is certain to change.
Ironically, if there was anyone to blame for the Wood strike, it was Virgil van Dijk but - because everyone expects him to stay with Liverpool - the captain is not being scrutinised in the same way the vice-captain is.
Alexander-Arnold has every right to wait and fully explore his options but as the uncertainty continues, the critical spotlight will be on him - no matter how harsh good old Jurgen thinks that is.
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