Interview'Just win!' - Trent explains how a Liverpool v Man Utd match feels
Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed his mentality heading in to Liverpool’s clash with Manchester United this afternoon: “Just win!”
The Reds welcome their great rivals to Anfield today knowing a victory would keep them on top of the Premier League table.
As a local lad, a boyhood Liverpudlian who has been with the Reds since the age of six, Alexander-Arnold knows all about the history between the two clubs – and what it would mean if Jürgen Klopp's side pick up three points.
“It is probably the biggest game of the season, home or away,” the vice-captain told Premier League Productions.
“It’s different from any other fixture that we have. Of course we potentially have different ambitions and different close rivals, but that rivalry between the fans will always remain, no matter where the teams are in the league, no matter what time of the season.
“It’s special. It’s Anfield! The fans get up for it, the players too.
“The occasion is massive, everyone knows how big it is. It feels different from every other game. It’s probably the one that gets the most viewers over the course of the season, people really tune in to it. It’s a huge global game.”
Liverpool enter the fixture in strong Premier League form, having lost just one of their 16 top-flight games so far this season, while United arrive at Anfield seeking to respond to a 3-0 home defeat by AFC Bournemouth last weekend.
Asked about his feelings ahead of the game, Alexander-Arnold said: “Just win! That’s the main thing. It’s the mentality I’ve got going in to every game, to be honest.
“People will talk about their form, our form, results and what’s going on within the clubs, potentially make excuses and things like that, but for us as players it’s still the same game.
“Just because we’re top of the league and they’re not, and they’re potentially going through a bad run of form or whatever, it’s not like we go into the game 1-0 up. It’s still 0-0, 11v11, and it’s a battle.
“Form goes out the window in these kind of games, it’s [about] who wants it more, who is willing to execute the game plan better and who wants to go and get the three points.”
Liverpool have enjoyed some stunning victories over the Red Devils in recent seasons, including an unforgettable 7-0 triumph at Anfield last term and a 5-0 win at Old Trafford in October 2021.
Summing up his memories of those games, Alexander-Arnold said: “Wild, really! It was unbelievable [to get] those kind of results.
“Games like that, they’re normally very tense, very close, one- or two-goal games. They’re really decided by key moments. But especially the 5-0 away at Old Trafford, going in at half-time 4-0 up it was just, ‘What’s gone on here?!’
“We knew we were an amazing team, we knew how good we were, but at the same time they were also a quality team. We just blew them away. The intensity and the way that we played was outstanding.
“Last season again, 7-0 is a crazy result. We scored late in the first half to go 1-0 up, went in at half-time thinking how hard it was going to be in the second half, not to hang on but to get a result from the game.
“We knew they were going to come out and be aggressive, press us, and to come off the pitch 7-0 is incredible. To score six goals in one half is not an easy thing to do.”
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Watch on YouTubeAlexander-Arnold’s first Premier League start for Liverpool, of course, came against Manchester United in January 2017.
He remembers a “very, very hostile” atmosphere at Old Trafford that day, as Liverpool drew 1-1, but went on to explain how players are able to remain calm in such emotional, high-stakes contests.
“You prepare for it, you train,” said the No.66. “We play a lot of football.
“Even in my first game at Old Trafford, my mentality was that I’ve played hundreds and thousands of games of football before [and] this is no different.
“It’s 11v11, two goals at either end, one ball, a referee. It’s the same game I’ve played all my life, no matter where I am or who it’s against, the rules are still the same and you have that one objective: to go and win.
“As long as you have that mentality, the outside, external factors can’t really creep in.”
This article has been automatically translated and, while all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, some errors in translation are possible. Please refer to the original English-language version of the article for the official version.