Trent Alexander-Arnold has told Granit Xhaka their flashpoint in the draw between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in the Premier League on Easter Sunday 'got the crowd going'.
Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold - who provided an assist for Roberto Firmino to equalise in the final minutes - admitted there was 'nothing wrong' with the incident and also said he was 'disappointed' not to win the game against the leaders.
The hosts trailed by two goals after Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus put Arsenal two up but Liverpool fought back courtesy of Mohamed Salah and Firmino. Salah also missed the chance to level earlier in the encounter after putting a second-half penalty wide.
Alexander-Arnold was asked about his coming together with Xhaka in the opening 45 minutes by Sky Sports after the draw.
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The England full-back responded: "I think a little bit of fire in a game like that there’s nothing wrong with it. He nudged me off the ball so it’s a natural reaction to do it back. It got the crowd going."
On the game overall Alexander-Arnold added: "[It was] intense, [a] very good game of football. Both sides played great football at times. We didn’t start like we wanted to but we showed character. We had a huge chance to win it at the end but we’ll take a point.
"We lacked intensity and weren’t compact enough as a team [at the start]. Towards the end of the first-half we started playing the way we wanted to and definitely in the second half. Against a team like that you’ll get punished for not starting quickly enough."
Alexander-Arnold continued: "Every game we want three points. Disappointed to not get it today but there are lessons in there."
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