Trent Alexander-Arnold has been elevated to a new role of responsibility within the Liverpool first-team setup after Jordan Henderson left for Saudi Arabia in the summer.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has opened up on adapting to big career changes this summer amid the departure of club captain Jordan Henderson.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is the new vice-captain at Liverpool
Liverpool bosses were caught off guard when Henderson, 33, opted to leave the club in favour of a reunion with Steven Gerrard at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq. He’d skippered the club for the previous eight years, lifting a string of major trophies including the Premier League and Champions League.
Vice-captain James Milner also joined Brighton after his contract expired, opening up new two senior roles within the squad. Virgil van Dijk was duly appointed skipper, with Alexander-Arnold, resurgent at the end of last season after moving into an advanced midfield role, taking the vice-captaincy duties.
“It’s been a big change. One where I’ve had to look in the mirror a lot and kind of step up to the position, the role,” he told the Liverpool FC podcast. “But it really all began at the end of last season for me. I put a plan in place to make sure I was coming back in the best possible shape. I was taking it seriously.”
Indeed, the England international insisted that due to a new off-season regime, he reported for duty in June prepared to step up and take responsibility, even if he was unaware what was to unfold. “Coming back in, I felt like a man,” he added. “Things happened within the club.”
“Players left, and Hendo obviously, and the positions become available. Who knows what would have happened if he was still here. But no matter what I was prepared for what was to come and I put myself in a position because of the mentality that I had.”
It wasn’t until the pre-season tour of the Far East that the 25-year-old was informed of Jurgen Klopp’s decision, a day before the club faced Leicester. “The manager just pulls me over on the pitch in Singapore (in training),” he said.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold and Henderson
“And I’m thinking it’s just going to be about the role that I’m playing again. And he just goes on to say, ‘Congratulations you’re the vice-captain of Liverpool Football Club.'”
The 25-year-old is currently with the England squad having been named by Gareth Southgate for the games with Australia and Italy. Alexander-Arnold is listed as a midfielder, despite returning to his full-back role this season at club level
