Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold emphasizes the importance of securing a higher position in the Premier League next season and acknowledges the need for near perfection to rival Manchester City. Last season, Jurgen Klopp's team fell short of Champions League qualification, finishing fifth and trailing the remarkable Manchester City by a significant 22-point margin.
When questioned about his optimism regarding Liverpool's ability to improve from fifth place, the English national gave an exclusive statement to We News: "As a club, it is crucial for us to be honest. While we appreciate every competition we participate in, if you had asked us the same question a year ago, we would have unanimously rejected the idea of finishing fifth. This sentiment remains the same today.
Do we aspire to finish fifth next season? Absolutely not. Our goal is to win the league, to compete in title races, and to secure a place in Champions League football. Therefore, not achieving these objectives in the upcoming season would be disheartening.
We are fully aware of the tactics needed to secure victory in the league, as well as the importance of competing fiercely against City. The key lies in maintaining an exceptionally high level of performance throughout the entire season, which is where our focus lies.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold's form was questioned in the first-half of the season.
In order to achieve near perfection, Liverpool must enhance their performance in away matches. The losses suffered against Wolves and Bournemouth proved to be significant setbacks.
"It all comes down to consistency," Alexander-Arnold stated. "Although we had positive outcomes against top teams throughout the season, we let go of valuable points due to carelessness in away matches. Consequently, these are the aspects that we have all acknowledged as areas that need improvement."
The 24-year-old made a notable impact for his club towards the end of the last season, showcasing his versatility by performing as an inventive right-back who moved into midfield.
In the recent Euro 2024 qualifiers, he took on an attacking midfield position for England and demonstrated his brilliance against Malta and North Macedonia.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold's heatmap transformation for Liverpool during the 2022/23 Premier League campaign sparks anticipation and a twinkle in his eye when discussing the possibility of continuing in a similar position next season.
"It's not up to me," stated Alexander-Arnold. "I simply follow the instructions and play in the positions assigned to me. All I can say is that I find great pleasure in playing football, whether it's at right-back or in the midfield.
"I take delight in both positions and I am relishing the challenge of excelling in either. While I would be happy to continue playing there next season, ultimately it is not my call when it comes to deciding where I play."
Upon his return to Liverpool for pre-season training, Alexander-Arnold will be joining forces with midfield acquisitions Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, whom he hails as his "ideal teammates" due to their ability to enhance his assists count with his skillset.
Renowned for their rigorous training approaches, Liverpool's pre-season sessions are notorious. Recently, Alexander-Arnold completed a week-long training camp in Oregon, United States, in order to adequately prepare his body. He asserts, "These sessions are undoubtedly challenging, although the extent of their intensity can vary, depending on their duration. Some pre-seasons are lengthier than others."
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I genuinely appreciate the overall experience of privacy options. It brings me immense pleasure to be involved with the team, exploring new places, residing in hotels, and being part of a close-knit base camp. This allows us to form strong bonds and develop a deeper understanding of each other.
Liverpool kicks off the new Premier League season with an away match against Chelsea on Sunday August 13, which will be broadcast live on We. The team's camaraderie grows stronger as everyone puts in the necessary effort and preparation for the upcoming season. The intriguing aspect lies in the uncertainty of the outcome, as no one can predict the final result. Nonetheless, the team remains highly motivated and dedicated to giving their best, ensuring that they have everything in place for a successful season.
West Londoners have welcomed Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach. However, the defender from Liverpool is eager for a strong start to the season. He acknowledges their struggles from the previous season and believes that the addition of a competent coach and players, as well as the removal of certain individuals, is aimed at achieving stability. He acknowledges that they will have time under the new manager to focus on this pursuit. Nonetheless, his priority remains on Liverpool and ensuring a positive start for his team.
We News spoke to Trent Alexander-Arnold at Under Armour's Human Performance Centre in Portland where he was taking part in a pre-season training camp.
Liverpool's 2023/24 Premier League fixtures
Liverpool kick off the 2023/24 Premier League season with a trip to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a clash that will be live on We on Sunday August 13.
Mauricio Pochettino will make his managerial debut for the Blues in their opening-weekend fixture. Everton will visit Anfield on October 21 for the first Merseyside derby of the season. On November 25, Jurgen Klopp's team will face off against champions Man City at the Etihad. In December, Liverpool will have consecutive home matches against Man Utd and Arsenal on December 16 and 23.
The Reds are scheduled to face challenging matches against Chelsea at home and Arsenal away on January 31 and February 3 respectively. Additionally, Man City will visit Anfield on March 9, followed by Liverpool's trip to Everton the following week across Stanley Park. Klopp's team will also visit Old Trafford on April 6, and will finish the season by hosting Wolves.