10 November 2023 , 13:00
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Jurgen Klopp has admitted he may be forced to follow Gareth Southgate ’s lead…and play Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield.
But in a pointed message, he reminded the England coach and other critics of the talented Liverpool playmaker, that playing him there means losing “one of the best full backs in the world”. Klopp is without suspended Alexis Mac Allister for the visit of Brentford to Anfield on Sunday, and must decide whether to play summer signing Wataru Endo in the holding position, or switch Alexander-Arnold.
And he said: “Playing Trent there is a possibility, for sure. It depends on the situation, but we know he can play there, so of course it is possible. It is just that if we play him there, then we lose one of the best right backs in the world, so we should not forget that completely, at least. But we know he is an option.”
Klopp also defended Japan captain Endo, who has yet to hold down a regular place in the Liverpool side, and was taken off at half time in the chastening midweek Europa League defeat by Toulouse. He has only completed 90 minutes twice for the Reds, and has twice been substituted at half time, but Klopp said: “ Thank God Wataru makes steps every day and that’s the important thing.
“It looks like this year some players have fitted in a bit quicker, but we’ve had many stories like this in the past. Andy Robertson didn’t play for half a year. Nobody can remember it any more, but it was like that, other players as well had their struggles in the beginning. Wataru didn’t even struggle, it’s just that we played pretty good.
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“He’s already played a lot of games. But people say he isn’t starting in the Premier League. It is not about that. He will definitely play games in the Premier League 100 percent.”
Should Liverpool start Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield on Sunday? Have your say in the comments section
Wataru Endo played 45 minutes or Liverpool against Toulouse (Ibrahim Ezzat/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)Liverpool went to Toulouse with a 100 percent record in their Europa League group, but fell to a narrow defeat in France. Klopp's team almost mounted a comeback from 2-0 and 3-1 down, with Diogo Jota pulling a second goal back and Jarell Quansah seeing a last-gasp equaliser ruled out for a handball in the build-up.
Klopp didn't agree with the handball call but didn't want that to distract from the fact he felt the performance wasn't up to his high standards. "Actually, I am a bit more concerned about (the fact that) I would have loved us to have played better, to be honest. That's my main issue tonight," he said.
Liverpool are still top of their group with two games to go, though Toulouse are just two points behind. Klopp's team will host LASK in their next group game on November 30 before rounding off the group stage campaign away to Union SG.