Arne Slot reveals area Trent Alexander-Arnold needs to improve

Liverpool continued their push for the Premier League title with an impressive 3-0 win over Bournemouth and Trent Alexander-Arnold played a decent game.

Arnold provided an assist in that match and that achievement means he has been directly involved in the 100th goal of his Liverpool career.

The England international has now been advised that his ability to maintain “100 per cent” concentration is the key to his improvement as a defender.

Arnold while speaking after Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Bournemouth said criticism of his defensive attributes was “harsh” but said he is intent on improving, a statement Slot believes he has identified how.

Arne Slot manager / head coach of Liverpool instructs Trent Alexander-Arnold (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

“It’s difficult for me to judge how it has been in the years before but the only thing I know is we are talking about a player that won the Champions League and the league title so it’s clear to me that he has been a good defender all his life,” Slot said. “But because he is so special with the ball, the main emphasis goes on him doing special things with the ball.

“I think with him it is not about if he is capable of doing things, it’s more can his concentration rate constantly be in 100 per cent focus? So this is what we talk about a lot, that he has to stay active in every situation of the game, even if the ball is further away from him. But it’s not that we or I taught him to defend in the last three months; he’s won the league and he’s won the Champions League. It’s just getting him to understand all of what is necessary to play the best possible game.”

Liverpool host West Ham in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday and they will be eager to continue their good run. The Reds have kept four clean sheets in five Premier League matches.

Arnold is likely to benched for the clash against West Ham with Slot set to rely on players who have seen limited game time since the league began.