‘I just don’t understand’: Klopp baffled by what Gareth Southgate did to 14-cap Liverpool man

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In his pre-match press conference, Jürgen Klopp has expressed confusion at those insisting Trent Alexander-Arnold should play in midfield.

It comes just days after Gareth Southgate played the 22-year-old as a midfielder in England’s 4-0 win over Andorra on Sunday.

What did Jürgen Klopp say?

Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Leeds, Klopp said: “Why would you make the best right-back in the world a midfielder?

“I just don’t understand that. Some people think because he’d be ten yards further up the field he would be more influential. We always use him as good as we can.”

Now, the German doesn’t directly mention Southgate, although he admits he struggles to see how anyone would thinking about playing Alexander-Arnold in midfield.

In our view, that’s quite a clear, if not deliberate, dig at the England manager’s decision.

Klopp is spot on.

Playing Alexander-Arnold in midfield doesn’t get the best out of his world class abilities, and his display against Andorra backs that up.

How did Trent Alexander-Arnold play?

The 14-cap England international didn’t exactly have a terrible game on Sunday, although he wasn’t able to do what he’s best at.

As SofaScore shows, Alexander-Arnold was only able to deliver one accurate cross while in midfield.

Crossing is arguably his best trait, and he gets an incredible amount of assists at Liverpool by doing so.

Alexander-Arnold also didn’t contribute a single interception, block or clearance, so it’s safe to say he struggled to get involved in the game.

Just by watching the match, it was clear Liverpool’s No.66 wasn’t that comfortable.

Reece James was consistently bombing forward into Alexander-Arnold’s favourite areas, so he looked a bit lost in all honesty.

As Klopp states, why change something that isn’t broken?

Those calling for Alexander-Arnold to play in midfield are just demanding change for change’s sake, in our view.