Jurgen Klopp warns Trent Alexander-Arnold is ‘fried’ as Mo Salah problem hits again

Jurgen Klopp has been warned that Trent Alexander-Arnold is “fried” in the same way Mohamed Salah was in his second season at Liverpool.

Alexander-Arnold is widely regarded as one of the best right-backs on the planet, but he hasn’t been at his best this season.

Former Liverpool star Jason McAteer has provided an explanation for the youngster’s coming out of the boil, comparing him to Salah scheduled for his second season at Liverpool, despite not reaching sky-high heights of his first campaign.

McAteer believes the defender is simply suffering from fatigue, saying he looks “mentally and physically exhausted and his brain looks fried”.

But McAteer insists Klopp will start Alexander-Arnold in the club’s most important game so far this season, during this weekend’s Premier League clash with managers Manchester United.

It’s been a hectic season so far – so make sure you don’t miss a thing by signing up for the new Mirror Football newsletter!

All the latest transfer news and big stories will arrive straight to your inbox. You won’t miss a thing.

To subscribe, put your email at the top of this article or follow the instructions at this link.

“Although Trent Alexander-Arnold is struggling a bit this season, he remains England’s best right-back,” McAteer told FreeSuperTips. “However, there is no such thing as a ‘perfect right-back’ these days.

“Years ago your right back was a defensive player who was there to protect all four backs, he was there to help the winger and every now and then he progressed.

“However, the modern right-back is practically a winger. Trent’s best qualities are when he advances. His crossbreeding and physical form are sublime, but defensively there are question marks about him.”

“As a coach you have to decide if you want that defensive player on your side or someone who’s more offensive, that’s what Klopp wants and that’s why Trent is a perfect choice.

“For Gareth Southgate, it depends on what he wants for each game and who fits the position best against each opposition.

“There have been games this season where he lacked quality, which is surprising given how much he has set his own performance bar.

“But when you’re in the media spotlight playing for Liverpool and you don’t hit the level of performance you had before, you’re going to be scrutinized.

“It’s similar with Mohamed Salah in his first season where he scored so many goals, while he didn’t equal until the following season people said he was done, while with the hindsight, his stats are simply phenomenal.

“What Liverpool have done under Klopp over the past few seasons is brilliant, and there was bound to be a tipping point somewhere.

“When a player is a little older and more in his career, you can handle it better, but with Trent he’s young, he plays football at the highest level and plays every week.

“It’s a lot of mental pressure for a young player. He looks mentally and physically exhausted, and his brain looks fried.

“Despite that, you still have to play him in the game against Manchester United. It’s the biggest game of the season in the Premier League, so the players don’t feel tired in the preparation. If Klopp wants to put him down for a few games, you do it after the United game. ”

Will Liverpool win the Premier League this season? Give your opinion here.

* Sign up for the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip