Reaction'Back where we belong' - Trent Alexander-Arnold revels in Champions League return

After being absent from Europe’s elite club competition last season, the Reds began their 2024-25 campaign with an impressive 3-1 win away to AC Milan on Tuesday night.

Goals from Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai ensured Arne Slot’s team recovered from the early setback of Christian Pulisic’s strike to claim all three points in convincing fashion.

Alexander-Arnold assisted Konate’s equaliser with a fine free-kick delivery and, post-match, he told CBS Sports: “Amazing. I think this club belongs in the Champions League with the history that it’s had and [it was] disappointing last year not being a part of it.

“But we’re back where we belong and [there is] no better way to get this campaign started than getting a win at the San Siro – a special venue, a special stadium and an unbelievable result.”

The vice-captain has started all five matches under Slot and was asked to detail what the new head coach demands of his full-backs.

Alexander-Arnold replied: “It changes. It changes fluidly throughout games depending on how the opponents press us so there is a lot of tactical changes within games: where to go, where not to go, when to stay wide, when to drop into the back line, when to go into midfield, when to be kind of like a No.8, or when Mo [Salah] rolls inside and I’m a high winger.

“There’s all different variations and he gives us that information throughout the week, throughout the game, leading up to the game. He paints scenarios so we have answers for everything, so it’s kind of like: ‘OK, if they press this way then this is where we’re going to be positioned and if they press a different way then we’ll position ourselves a different way.’

“There’s a solution to every problem that they pose at us.”

The 25-year-old was also named in England’s starting XI for their two fixtures during the recent international break and explained that he is satisfied with how he has started the season on a personal level.

“I had a short time off in the summer where after the Euros there was a little bit of time for holidays and then back into it, so I think for me it was just an excitement to work under a new manager that I had never had before, and having spoken to the manager I was excited for the plans and the way that he talked about it,” Alexander-Arnold said.

“So, to get back as soon as possible and to be as fit as possible for the opening game of the season was my aim and hit the ground running and be one of the best players in the league.

“That was my aim going into it, to hit the ground running and build a great foundation for the rest of the season.”

• 'The whole team played well' - every word from Arne Slot's post-AC Milan press conference