Having only ever had Jurgen Klopp as manager during his professional career, Trent Alexander-Arnold has seen his role on the pitch diversify during Liverpool games thanks to Arne Slot
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Slot has defended Alexander-Arnold's defensive abilities
Trent Alexander-Arnold's creative numbers have dropped under Arne Slot
(Image: PA)
Trent Alexander-Arnold's role under Arne Slot has resulted in the Liverpool star playing a less creative role within the team. The 26-year-old has enjoyed an impressive season under the Dutchman with the Premier League giants likely heading towards title triumph.
With nine games left of the season, the Reds are 12 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal but it's currently unknown when the right-back will return to action due to suffering an ankle injury earlier this month.
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The England star may only have a handful of games left to play for his boyhood club after reports of a potential summer move to Spanish giants Real Madrid have heated up recently. He's yet to agree a new contract with the club as the vice-captain's current deal expires following the end of the season, alongside Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.
While he has impressed Slot with his attacking performances and improved defensive displays, Alexander-Arnold's role within the team has undergone a shift from the days of Jurgen Klopp, and it's something he's admitted himself.
"[The role] depends on the game because if you think of Man United away, I played almost like a No.10. I was higher up the pitch because of the way they pressed," Alexander-Arnold told Liverpoolfc.com back in October. "In certain games I'll be inside because of the way they [the opposition] press – sometimes they press differently. It all varies on how they press."
Among the changes he's had to contend with is less of a creative influence on the team. Alexander-Arnold is not only playing fewer progressive passes this season, he's receiving fewer as well. He's also hitting career lows in passes into the final third and the penalty area.
Arne Slot manager / head coach of Liverpool and Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
The Liverpool vice-captain raved about Slot's tactical nous (Image: 2025 AMA Sports Photo Agency)
Despite having less of a starring role on the attacking side of the ball, the full-back admitted that Slot's tactical tweaks still puts him in a position to impact the game. "The manager will dissect how they press so we can outnumber the way they press," he explained.
"If they press with three, we'll have four players around, so that we can play through them. If they press with a two then there'll be three players, et cetera, et cetera. It's just about who those players are and where it works best.
"So, wherever the manager tells me to be, I'll be there because he'll tell me that's most likely where you'll get the ball. And if that changes then he'll tell me during the game, 'you're not getting the ball there, try there and maybe surprise him in there and see if that works'.
Trent Alexander-Arnold reacts during Liverpool's Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield
This could be Alexander-Arnold's last season at Liverpool
(Image: Getty Images)
"Throughout the game, there's a lot of things going on but if I understand it then it'll work. So far it has."
Slot discussed his aim in improving Alexander-Arnold's defensive game which has been criticised in recent years and admitted he believes his player has made strides in becoming a better all-round right-back. "When we started to work together, I emphasised also a bit on his defensive work," Slot said to TNT Sports in January.
"He had to keep producing the numbers in assisting goals, but if we wanted to be a team that concedes less shots, he had to improve a bit in defending.
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"We have spoken a lot to him about consistency. Because he’s been quite long with this club, he sometimes trains or has played games like, ‘Ah, it’s another one from 200 that I’ve already played or all these sessions I’ve already had’. This is where we’ve worked on, and I think we can see the progression he has made."