TOON STARS IN TRAIN BUST-UP
Trent says secret to Kop success is the confidence Klopp instills in his stars TOBY’S MAD WEEKEND NOT
FOUR Newcastle stars, including Danny Rose, were involved in an ugly spat with a Geordie fan after choosing to get the train home from their hammering at Arsenal.
The club have insisted that Rose, Allan SaintMaximin, Nabil Bentaleb (below) and Christian
Atsu did nothing wrong after video emerged of a minor flash-point on a train from Kings Cross.
The players chose not to fly home after a bumpy plane journey to London and were given the option of rail travel.
But one fan dished out some unflattering thoughts on their performance, which was filmed by his friend, prompting Rose to stand up for himself verbally. The supporters were asked to leave the area by the train crew.
The players won’t face any consequences over Sunday’s incident.
TRENT ALEXANDERARNOLD says Liverpool now have the mentality to go toe to toe with the best in the world without flinching.
But the Reds right-back also admits that operating at such a rarefied level means they cannot afford a single lapse in concentration.
The Scouse defender embodies the incredible development of Jurgen Klopp’s all-conquering team. At 21, he is widely regarded as the best in the world in his position, with all-time great Cafu tipping him to win a Ballon d’Or.
Alexander-Arnold says his emergence is the result of the confidence, belief and mentality that Kop boss Jurgen Klopp fosters. As Liverpool prepared to meet the physical challenge of Atletico Madrid in the knock-out phase of the Champions League tonight, the young defender was asked if they have a psychological edge over their rivals, at whose stadium Liverpool won their sixth European Cup last summer.
“I wouldn’t say that. I’d say we’re confident and believe in our own ability,” he replied.
“We believe in ourselves as individuals and as a team so we go into it confident. Whether that’s an edge or not, I don’t know, but that’s our mentality.
“It won’t change for any team we come up against because that’s the message the manager has instilled in us during his time here and we’ve bought into that. For us, it’s about doing the things that we are good at. That is the mentality of this team.” Liverpool
TOTTENHAM’S Toby Alderweireld has revealed his frantic schedule in the maddest weekend of his life. The Belgium defender became a father for the second time, when wife Shani are of course defending European champions and Premier League champions-elect, with only five more wins required to deliver their first title in 30 years.
Remarkably, they have yet to lose a two-legged knock-out tie in European competition under Klopp, with the German coach guiding them to three finals since he arrived on Merseyside. In fact, they gave birth to a son in the early hours of Friday morning. The couple already have a daughter.
It was hardly the best preparation for Tottenham’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa where Alderweireld scored at either end.
He set Villa on their way with a have not lost a two-legged tie in the Champions League since going out to Chelsea in 2009.
For Kop defender Alexander-Arnold the aim is simple: do it all over again, by showing the same mentality that took them to a Europa League final in Klopp’s first season, and the last two Champions League showpieces. “I think the best players in the world want to get to these stages. They want to be in finals, they want to first-half goal before making amends with an equaliser to put Jose Mourinho’s men back on track.
Alderweireld said: “A lot happened. I slept maybe an hour, woke up, and went for a run to keep my muscles going. On