KLOPP: TRENT IS SO GOOD IT’S INSANE

Kop boss raps critics who doubt TAA’S defensive ability

JURGEN KLOPP had the perfect word to describe Trent Alexander-arnold’s performances this season.

The Kop full-back was again superb in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup win at Arsenal on Thursday and Klopp said: “The package of Trent is... insane.

“I don’t know anybody like him, anybody who is a right-back and yet that decisive and influential.”

Only Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller have provided more assists in Europe’s big five leagues than Alexander-arnold since the start of the 2018-19 season.

He was at it again at the Emirates, delivering an inch-perfect pass for Diogo Jota to double Liverpool’s lead. It makes critics who snipe at his supposed defensive frailties sound ridiculous.

And Klopp pointed to how well his young full-back dealt with dangerous Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli on Thursday.

“I really don’t like when people say of Trent: ‘Yeah, defensively he’s not that good.’ I heard it again on the TV on the bus on the way home from Arsenal. I thought he did outstandingly well defensively.

“Martinelli...we will talk about him in the future because he will have a proper career so it’s really good what Trent did against him.”

If Klopp thinks Martinelli has a big future, then he believes the sky’s the limit for his own defender.

Alexander-arnold and Kop leftback Andy Robertson passed 100 assists between them for Liverpool with the two at the Emirates on Thursday, and Klopp said of TAA: “He still has 15 years or whatever to play and to create and to learn and improve. But the last five years were a good start to his career!”

It’s no wonder Klopp says his Anfield story is “far from finished.” In a big semi-final, with his side clear second favourites after a poor first leg, he selected four academy graduates in the starting XI and another couple on the bench.

It is that youthful promise built into his team which has Liverpool supporters hoping he will stay at Anfield long enough to develop a new team, even beyond his current contract which expires in 2024.

Kaide Gordon at just 17 was not out of his depth at Arsenal and will get more starts this season, while keeper Caoimhin

Kelleher was so good he has already been guaranteed a place in the

EFL Cup final against

Chelsea, ahead of Alisson, with Klopp singing his praises.

Yet he reserved special mention for Curtis Jones, who has responded well to a heart-to-heart with the manager last week when Klopp told him it was time to deliver on his immense promise.

“From the first time I saw him I have been one of his biggest fans,” Klopp said. “The talent group was training and I looked out of my office and saw him and thought ‘wow’.

“He was 15 at the time but already clearly a massive talent.

“Talents need to work and he is doing that work. Talents also need to learn the game and he is doing that every day.

“Sometimes they need a push and Curtis looks like he is that guy.

‘It is a proper response and he can have that much more often if his response is like this!”

Klopp revealed that Joel Matip, Alex-oxlade Chamberlain and Fabinho will all have fitness checks before tomorrow’s visit

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