Jurgen Klopp has described the key change to Liverpool’s system that has facilitated Trent Alexander-Arnold’s recent rise in form.
A more advanced position for the right-back has led to starring roles in the comeback against Arsenal and hammering of Leeds, and he is set to take it up again when Nottingham Forest come to Anfield on Saturday.
Klopp revealed that it only took a week in training to prepare the new set-up, which is as much about the demands on Alexander-Arnold’s teammates as on the player himself.
“It’s slightly different but it’s not as different as in some other games where he’s always at right-back or higher up,” he told reporters.
“Trent’s a smart player but it’s more about how we set up around him, that he can play the position was never in doubt. But it’s about when we lose the ball, we have a different formation - where’s [Andrew] Robertson, Ibou [Konate]?
“It’s obviously important how we get him on the ball, maybe we’ll do it like this tomorrow or not. We’ll see. Maybe he’ll get a man-marker and not get the ball, then we have to adapt.
“It’s not the solution for all our problems this year but he has the potential to play that position, that was always clear. We will see where it leads to.”
Liverpool begin a long run of home games this weekend in their bid to secure European football next season, although Klopp is solely focused on facing relegationg-threatened Forest.
“Four out of the next five games are at home,” he said.
“When you're in a super moment, the only game you worry about is the next. When you're low you focus on just the next game. There's no alternative. It's about showing all our respect for Forest.”
