Trent Alexander-Arnold admits 'harsh' talks with Arne Slot as new Liverpool target emerges

His future is increasingly becoming a matter of concern among Liverpool supporters. Trent Alexander-Arnold, though, is very much focused on the here and now.

And that is revolving around some tough love from Reds boss Arne Slot as the 25-year-old warms to a new era at Anfield following the departure of Jurgen Klopp, the only other club manager under whom he has played.

Video analysis and forensic examination of his defensive performances have become the norm for Alexander-Arnold who, having had a brief dalliance with becoming a midfielder, now has a very clear aim following discussions with the new Liverpool head coach.

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"We kind of talked about targets and aims and I said to him that I would like to be the defender that no-one wants to come up against in Europe," says Alexander-Arnold.

"We agreed that he will be harsh on me. If any time an attacker gets by me and gets past me he will call it out in meetings and individual meetings and say this cannot happen.

"We go through every game together and he highlights where he wants me to improve. Even in the Milan game (which Liverpool won 3-1 on Tuesday) we had about 20 clips going through what I could have done better and the good parts as well.

"It is really refreshing to have a manager who will help and guide and teach me how to be better as a player. I am someone who wants to learn, someone who wants to be the best and someone who strives to be the best ever."

While Alexander-Arnold has seen his defending greater scrutinised than arguably any current Premier League player, he has been a mainstay in a backline that kept a fourth clean sheet in their first five league games of the campaign in the 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday.

And of the dim view of his rearguard abilities from some, he adds: "I think that perception was perhaps harsh, if I am honest. It was a big perception and it was hard to kind of shrug off with just one good defensive game.

"But when you put a lot together, we have had four out of five clean sheets. That is exceptional from a backline. Defences win championships, that is the old saying, and being part of that defence means I have responsibilities to make sure my winger doesn’t get a sniff in the game.

"I lay targets for every game which is how many times am I dribbled past, how many times does he get a cross in, how many times a shot. I look back on it and if I am disappointed then I am disappointed and if I am happy I am happy."

Alexander-Arnold hit another landmark in his hugely impressive Reds career when bursting forward from a central position to tee up Luis Diaz for the second against Bournemouth. It was his 100th goal contribution - 19 strikes and 81 assists - in 316 games for the club.

"They are good numbers," he admits. "I think I am capable of many, many more if I am honest."

Not that his latest assist was regular for a right-back. "No, it is freedom," he explains. "Ibou (Konate) gets the ball, plays it to Mo (Salah), Mo had no-one there with him and I kind of anticipated that someone needs to be there for a bounce pass. So as the ball goes I start to sprint. Their winger doesn’t track me and Mo sees me and plays it to me and I break free.

"Then again, it is about making your choices when you get into the box. Darwin (Nunez) made a good run, I could see Mo was making a run across but I thought he might be a bit too wide. Dom (Szoboszlai) made a run to take someone away and Lucho was free. I played it to Lucho and he put it in the back of the net."

Alexander-Arnold adds of the new approach under Slot: "It is working well. There was big emphasis on the midfield overload, getting the triangles right, we worked on that in training and we executed it to perfection.

"For now I am completely focused on this season and how many goals, assists and clean sheets I can get and hopefully do enough to help us win the league."

Alexander-Arnold has declared previous targets at Liverpool, not least becoming skipper. Having last summer assumed vice-captain duties behind Virgil van Dijk, the homegrown player is tantalisingly close to realising that dream.

That, though, will almost certainly require the England international to extend a contract that is due to expire at the end of the season. As ever, European Super League advocates Real Madrid lurk menacingly in the shadows whenever any top talent appears close to becoming a free agent.

"I have always said I want to captain the club, that is an aim of mine and a goal of mine, (but) whether that happens is out of my hands," says Alexander-Arnold.

"Look, I have been at the club 20 years now, I have signed four or five contract extensions and none of those have been played out in public. And this one won’t be either.

"I want to be a Liverpool player this season (as a minimum) is what I will say."

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And when probed on what will prove persuasive in his decision-making process, Alexander-Arnold's response was almost instant.

"The most important thing is always trophies, if I am honest," he says. "I want to win trophies, I am a player who is highly motivated by trophies and winning things and being elite. So that is probably the main factor of anything, if you have a personality that is elite, who wants to win and will do anything to win, then that is what drives me.

"We were close to the title last season and we got a cup. The quad was on for a while, I suppose, the signs were there. This season we are looking really good, it is still early days, but we need a lot of consistency and to beat a lot of teams over the course of this season.

"Then you have the other cups, the Champions League and everything that comes around it. It will be difficult but we are looking to win as many trophies as we can."

A new era is seeing a new Alexander-Arnold - the defender nobody wants to come up against but anyone would want in their team.