Trent Alexander-Arnold says Virgil van Dijk urged Liverpool’s first-team team to use Jurgen Klopp’s upcoming departure as ‘motivation’ to give the manager the best possible send-off following his unexpected announcement in January.
Klopp shocked the footballing world by revealing his intention to step down at the end of the season after nine successful years at Anfield. The 56-year-old German has transformed Liverpool’s fortunes since taking over from Brendan Rodgers in October 2015, guiding the club to eight pieces of silverware including the Premier League and the Champions League.
An FA Cup quarter-final loss to Manchester United ended Liverpool’s hopes of achieving a historic quadruple this season, after the team’s Carabao Cup victory, but the Reds remain competitive in the top flight and in the Europa League.
The Merseyside giants face Premier League strugglers Sheffield United on Thursday night, aiming to strengthen their position at the top
after coming from behind to defeat Brighton last weekend. However, both Arsenal and Manchester City have the opportunity to overtake their title rivals at the summit when they face Luton and Aston Villa respectively this evening. During an extensive conversation with Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher for
The Athletic
, Alexander-Arnold reflected on the day Klopp announced his decision to leave and shared how the team responded to the news. Alexander-Arnold has missed the Reds’ last ten games due to injury (Picture: Getty)The Liverpool and England right-back explained: ‘It started like a normal day. Then the manager called a meeting at 10:30am, which we had never had before, so everyone was like, “What’s going on?”.
He said that this had to be his last season, that he needed a break to spend time with his family. I didn’t know what to do. You think, “Is this a joke?”. None of us were expecting it.
‘After he left the room, everyone was just sat there thinking, “Has that just happened?”. Then you have to get on with it, going out to train in an hour, doing your job.’
Klopp is looking to add to his haul of eight trophies at Liverpool (Picture: Getty)
Liverpool’s players are determined to give Klopp the perfect farewell by adding to their Carabao Cup triumph at Wembley and ending the season on a high.
‘He said: “This is huge news that’s going to shake the footballing world but we can’t let it distract us, we have to use it as motivation. The manager has led us to so much success, he’s enabled us to fulfil our dreams, so we owe it to him to give everything we possibly can to give him the best send-off”.
'Virg said if people think this is going to make us take our eye off the ball then we need to prove them wrong. It was big news but as professionals, you have to get your head around it quickly and move on.'
Alexander-Arnold is hopeful of returning in the next fortnight (Picture: Getty)
Alexander-Arnold has missed Liverpool’s last ten games with a knee injury but hopes to return to the fold ‘in the next couple of weeks’ to aid the club’s push for trophies in the business end of the season.
'But when it’s months and you’re missing finals and games against teams like Man City, then it hurts.
'The whole world is watching and that’s the stage you want to be performing on – but it’s been incredible to see the young lads come into the team and perform like they have done. The day we had at Wembley was amazing.
'When you’re not playing yourself and not able to do what you’ve always done, it’s hard. Football is your life.
'If everything keeps going right then I should be back in the next couple of weeks.'
The German’s announcement took everyone by surprise.
‘If everything keeps going right then I should be back in the next couple of weeks.’
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