ReactionTrent Alexander-Arnold: We have to throw everything at the last six games

The Reds’ Europa League ambitions were brought to a halt at the quarter-final stage on Thursday night, with a 1-0 win at Atalanta not sufficient to prevent a 3-1 aggregate elimination.

Exit from European competition means the singular focus for Jürgen Klopp’s team is now the league and, in the immediate short term, a trip to Fulham on Sunday.

Speaking post-match in Bergamo, vice-captain Alexander-Arnold expressed the desire within the squad to squeeze all they can from the closing weeks of 2023-24.

“We came here with the objective of trying to win the game but it wasn’t enough at the end of the day,” Alexander-Arnold told Liverpoolfc.com.

“We set ourselves a very tough task after last week, an uphill battle and it was too hard for us to turn around. But, we got the win, a clean sheet as well so there’s positives to take. But we know over the two legs we didn’t deserve to go through.”

The No.66, whose early cross drew a handball and penalty that Mohamed Salah converted against Atalanta, continued: “When you are up against it you want to get the early goal and it set the tone of the game when we did that.

“I thought in the first half we were really good, boxed them in, kept them in their own half and tried to put as much pressure on them as possible, but they withstood the pressure we put on them.

“In the second half we couldn’t find our rhythm and didn’t create too much and it wasn’t enough in the end.”

With those half-a-dozen matches remaining in the top flight this term – and in Klopp’s Liverpool tenure – the Reds sit third, two points behind leaders Manchester City.

A quick turnaround sees them journey to Craven Cottage this weekend, followed by a Merseyside derby on Wednesday night and trip to West Ham United three days later.

“After the game we spoke quite positively about the rest of the season, we’ve got a month left and we need to give it everything,” said Alexander-Arnold.

“That’s what we are going to do, we are going to throw everything at it and try to do all that we can. We know it’s not in our hands anymore but we need to be as good as possible and just be in the best position that we can to capitalise if teams do slip up.

“We have got a huge game that we need to go and win [on Sunday]. We have got a very difficult week ahead of us, three away games that we need to win and get results in and that’s our aim now.

“That’s why on nights like this you need to learn from it quick and settle the dust as quick as possible tonight, get back home and recover and go again on Sunday.”

Alexander-Arnold got 72 minutes under his belt versus Atalanta on what was his first starting appearance for more than two months due to injury.

Asked how he is feeling fitness-wise, he said: “I think I just ran out of juice in the second half. In the first half I was enjoying my football, I was finding passes and playing a game that I loved.

“And I think you can tell by the way I played it was special for me to be back out there and help the team win the game.

“[But] as good as it was for me personally to be back out there and starting, the overriding feeling is disappointment not to be continuing in this competition.”