Liverpool, Oct. 5 (BUS): Nobody questioned Trent Alexander-Arnold’s attacking qualities, so it would be an exaggeration to say that his perfectly executed free kick was a response to his critics.
However, his seventh-minute goal that set Liverpool on their way to Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League win over Rangers was significant.
His happy celebration was a stress release for a player whose place at the World Cup appears to be in jeopardy, The Associated Press reported.
Whether that performance will be enough to convince England manager Gareth Southgate to include him in his squad for Qatar remains to be seen – but for Jurgen Klopp, Alexander-Arnold is pivotal to Liverpool’s recovery from such an uncertain start to the season.
Questions also hang over the Merseyside club – but the one-sided rivalry at Anfield should calm nerves among its players.
Only veteran Rangers goalkeeper Alan McGregor prevented Liverpool from achieving a landslide victory.
40-year-old McGregor engaged in a personal double with Darwin Nunez in the first half – and managed a stunning finger save to banish a goal-related effort from Diogo Jota after resting from a set of stops in the face of crushing Liverpool pressure.
In the end it took two free kicks to beat him – a free kick by Alexander-Arnold and a penalty kick in the second half from Mohamed Salah.
Klopp defended Alexander-Arnold amid growing criticism of his defensive weaknesses and continued on the topic on Tuesday, even if it was another occasion where the full-back’s attacking prowess caught the eye.
“He played a good defensive game especially, and it was a good goal,” said the Liverpool boss. We can’t talk about it every week. Trent has no defensive problem – we have a defensive problem, hopefully we have (defensive problem).
“Our timing wasn’t right and we’re taking risks in defence, everyone knows that. When the timing isn’t right, gaps open up, often in the back of Trent. Not because of him, but because of other situations and he has to turn back, and yes, we weren’t. At the perfect moment. That’s why we tweaked it a little bit (tonight).”
It is difficult, however, to draw many conclusions from a match in which the difference between English and Scottish football was completely exposed.
Liverpool’s early season struggles were nowhere to be found in the face of such meager opposition from Rangers.
Glasgow FC looked far from deep from the very first moments as the home side completely controlled the ball and chances.
McGregor was called to work just three minutes later to stop Nunez’s attempt. This will become the topic of the first half.
Liverpool were ahead soon after when Alexander-Arnold took a free kick just outside the penalty area and curled a curling ball into the top corner to spark wild celebrations inside Anfield.
The only surprise at the end of the first half was the fact that Liverpool failed to consolidate their lead.
But Salah eliminated any chance of an unlikely response with a penalty kick in the 53rd minute after Leon King brought down Louis Diaz in the penalty area.
“Don’t forget the opponents we play against,” said Rangers coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst. “Everyone is thinking, ‘Okay, it’s Liverpool, they’re out of shape, it’s going to be an easy game.’ Well, today you see what level they can get to.
The gap is clear. You don’t have to look at the teams we have. We are competing against one of the best teams in Europe. The gap is there.”
For Klopp, there was a sense of relief after scoring consecutive victories in the competition and a chance to build some momentum and confidence.
Liverpool remained three points behind Napoli, the leaders in Group A, who beat Ajax 6-1.
“I can’t wait for the moment I can read newspapers again because I haven’t read them in weeks,” he joked. “I don’t know what’s going on in the world, to be honest. I know the big news and the bad news, I know them all.
“Criticism is absolutely fine. We don’t overstate our situation. But we played some really good games – it wasn’t like 10 years ago, and it wasn’t that long ago. Tonight I saw a totally committed team and that’s what we have to do.”
These are tentative steps forward for Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold – and neither the club nor the player will get too carried away based on tonight’s Anfield.