KOP No.2: I TOLD KLOPP I’D WORK FOR FREE IF TAA MOVE FAILED
JOHN RICHARDSON.
BY LIVERPOOL assistant boss Pep Lijnders has revealed that he was prepared to hand over a year’s salary if Trent Alexander-arnold’s hybrid midfield role failed.
Lijnders insisted he always knew Alexanderarnold possessed the armoury to switch inside from his normal right-back position.
“The moment we found balance in our team was when we put Trent inside,” said Lijnders.
“I told Jurgen Klopp, ‘Please, I will give all my salary next year if it doesn’t work, but we have to try’.” Now, Alexander-arnold appears to have found his ideal role, with England boss Gareth Southgate also starting Liverpool’s vice-captain in midfield.
Klopp has joined his Dutch assistant in believing the switch has made Alexanderarnold the complete player and realised the former academy player’s full potential.
Lijnders said: “I am so proud of Trent. His attitude, his passion, his unpredictability, his development as a leader.
“There are more players like him in the academy, but there are not many as tenacious as him. That makes him the best, the passion, the love for the game, the passion for winning. He comes from a lovely family as well. He is a wonderful guy and an incredible player.”
Lijnders also spoke of his relationship with Klopp: “Arrigo Sacchi changed the way of thinking, training and playing at AC Milan, Louis van Gaal did the same with Ajax and so did Johan Cruyff at Barcelona.
“They all had the ability to change the whole club, the way to look at football. Jurgen has done the same for Liverpool. Not many can say that. I really hope this club continues leading in this way with their playing style.”