Klopp singles out Alexander-Arnold for praise after ´very helpful´ defensive display

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp singled out Trent Alexander-Arnold for praise following a strong defensive display on Harvey Barnes in the 2-1 win over Leicester City on Friday.

The Reds secured their fourth straight league win to move within two points of fourth-placed Tottenham as they bid to rescue their campaign after a sluggish start.

Two own goals from Wout Faes late in the first half earned Liverpool the points after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had raced through the middle of the Reds’ defence to open the scoring in the fourth minute.

Alexander-Arnold, who has had a mixed season, won praise from Klopp as the Reds held off the Foxes, quelling the threat of Barnes down Leicester’s left side.

“Really good, and not the first time,” Klopp told reporters. “It was really good, very helpful and very important in these moments. Very, very helpful.

“I think everybody knows how good Harvey Barnes is in these moments and Trent did exceptionally well. We had a few good performances, really good performances but the majority were not on top of their game, let me say it like this, and that’s why this can happen.

“Now we have just two days [before facing Brentford on Monday] and we don’t know exactly who can go again and stuff like this.”

Klopp may have two immediate headaches with full-back Andy Robertson substituted just past the hour with an injury concern, while Harvey Elliott went off late too.

The German revealed that the Scottish defender had actually been hurt in the warm-up but still opted to start him.

“Funnily enough, Harvey, before the game, injured Robbo a little bit,” Klopp said.

“In our warm-up game, he hit him with a knee at the hip, so it was a dead leg. He could play but then at one point the muscle closed and he couldn’t play on.

“Harvey got a knock, which was quite painful, but when you see the situation because it is clear that’s painful, but that’s it, I think.”

Ending 2022 with our fourth consecutive Premier League win pic.twitter.com/pPeNXseuZV

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 31, 2022