Press conferenceTrent Alexander-Arnold on Europa League, team spirit, season ambitions and more
Trent Alexander-Arnold says Liverpool are fully determined to return two victories this week ahead of the October international break, starting with Union SG in the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Reds are back in action in Europe at Anfield for the visit of the Belgian Pro League leaders, before a Premier League trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon.
Jürgen Klopp's men are aiming to return to winning ways against Union SG, after being beaten 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend in a game that saw the visitors reduced to nine men and have a Luis Diaz goal, as confirmed by PGMOL post-match, incorrectly ruled out for offside by VAR.
Alexander-Arnold reflected on that loss, looked ahead to Liverpool's second Europa League contest of the season and more in a pre-match press conference at Anfield on Wednesday.
Read on for a summary of what the vice-captain had to say…
On the feeling in the squad after last weekend's defeat...
Yes, we've spoken about things but our focus is on the game tomorrow now. There is nothing we can do as players about what has gone on. It's passed. We now focus on a different competition and a big three points for what we want to achieve.
On whether he has spoken to Alexis Mac Allister about facing his brother and Union SG...
No, not yet. But we will do an analysis meeting today, so I'm sure we will see all about him. If he's anything like Alexis, we will need to prepare properly.
On if there will be any 'severe trust issues' with VAR going forward...
I wouldn't say trust issues. I think decisions are decisions, sometimes they go for you and sometimes they go against you. What happened on the weekend for us as players and as a team is very disappointing and frustrating. But, like I say, it's passed us. There is nothing we can do as players now; the game has gone. We have just got to move forward and put it past us. VAR is a system that is in place, and it is something we can't control as players. We've got to put our trust in the referees and the officials that use it and hope that they get the decisions right, and at times they don't and at times they do. We've just got to hope that they get the decisions right as much as possible.
On how Liverpool's battling spirit and values are instilled into new players when they arrive...
No, it is not something you can learn, but I think it is something we show as a team, and it comes from the manager down to us. I think the players that have been around for a while, the players that have won everything with the club and the players that have experienced all of these things, we know what it takes and we know what is demanded. And when new players and young players come through, we demand that from them and show them what is needed to be a successful team. I think we've been able to show that so far and I think everyone has bought into it. So, it's an exciting time. On Saturday it was an outstanding performance in the circumstances we were in. We are proud of what we did and we could've easily come away with a point there.
On whether there is any extra motivation or edge heading into the next games...
I mean, taking the circumstances and what actually happened and putting that aside, we lost the game. No matter what way that happens you lose a game. Our motivation now is that we have two games before the international break comes and we want to and feel like we need to win both of the games. It will be difficult to do so but we think and feel we're capable of doing that. That's where our focus is at.
On whether the team has a belief and spirit they can create something special this season...
Yes, 100 per cent. As players, as a team, we're not shy for what our ambitions are and what we want to do. We want to win trophies and we want to win the biggest trophies out there. We feel we've laid a good foundation. We're in a good position in the league table and still in the cup competitions, obviously got our first three points in this competition too, so we're in a good position. It's still early doors, we will be able to judge where we are. I think it's always important to kind of analyse where you are around [the] Christmas stage because you really get a feel for what you can achieve. If we're still in a position like this come Christmas, we've laid a perfect foundation to go and push on for the second half of the season. We are a team with high ambitions, and we demand that from ourselves. It's a good spirit and a good feeling around the place.
On looking to now get back on another long unbeaten run...
As players we don't really concern ourselves with how many games we've gone unbeaten. We just want to win every game that is in front of us, and we start again tomorrow with a big game. We can go and win that, we feel. That's where our focus is at. I think especially this early on in the season, you just want to lay foundations, winning foundations, get that winning feeling and get a good feeling around the place. It's not about how you start, it's about how you finish. But it's important to make sure you're in a position to finish well.
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