New Liverpool boss Arne Slot has issued his verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s best position ahead of the new Premier League season.
Slot enters the dugout this season with the almighty task of replacing Jurgen Klopp who stepped aside after nine years at Anfield.
The Dutchman has had all pre-season to get to grips with his squad which has seen no new outfield arrivals on the eve of the club’s opening league fixture against Ipswich Town.
The club have tried to bring in new arrivals, most notably in central midfielder, but were rebuffed in their attempts to sign Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.
Having played there at points in the summer with England at Euro 2024, Alexander-Arnold has been mooted as potential cover in the middle of the park.
And Slot believes it’s a role that the Liverpool academy graduate is more than capable of fulfilling on a regular basis at club level.
‘I think a position for a player is always related to the team and it’s also my aim to bring the best out of the player,’ he said ahead of the trip to Portman Road.
‘But the first aim is to bring the best out of the team and it helps if you also bring the best out of a player then. Trent is known for playing as a right full-back for all his life, I think, and when he was a youngster he played in midfield.
‘In the modern game, you see a lot of full-backs going into the midfield – that is what he did last season once in a while and I saw him playing in the Euros [in] the midfield.
‘So, I think he is capable of playing both positions really good and then it’s up to me where I think he could help the team the most.’
Following his lengthy summer of international duty, Alexander-Arnold played just one pre-season game – at home versus Sevilla – where he started at right-back.
Slot, who has everyone fit and available for his first Premier League fixture, said he was relishing the challenge of the season ahead.
‘I’m excited, of course,’ he added. ‘I think after a pre-season it’s always, for a player and also for a manager or a coach, nice to start the season because this is what you worked for in the last few weeks.’
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