- Jurgen Klopp has been praised for his treatment of Trent Alexander-Arnold
- Alexander-Arnold shone in the 3-0 win over Manchester City on Wednesday
- Liverpool Under 23 coach Neil Critchley believes Klopp’s faith has been repaid
- ‘There are more players… who just don’t get that time, faith, (or) trust,’ he said
Jurgen Klopp’s management of Liverpool youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold has been praised by the club’s Under 23 coach Neil Critchley.
The 19-year-old full back bounced back from a difficult couple of weeks to play a starring role in Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League win over Manchester City at Anfield.
Critchley coached the teenager in Liverpool’s Academy setup and he believes Reds manager Klopp is now reaping the rewards of keeping faith with Alexander-Arnold through the troubling spell.
Jurgen Klopp has been praised for his handling of Trent Alexander-Arnold by Neil Critchley
Alexander-Arnold was excellent in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Manchester City on Wednesday
‘The easy thing after Trent’s last few performances was to leave him out,’ he told Goal. ‘He didn’t and Trent paid him back last night.
‘He repaid him, and I wish there were a lot more managers in the Premier League who showed faith in young English players like that because there are more players like Trent who just don’t get that time, that faith, that trust.
‘I was delighted.’
Alexander-Arnold received criticism for a series of uncomfortable recent performances against the likes of Marcus Rashford and Wilfried Zaha.
But youth coach Critchley says the way in which he responded against Manchester City shows that a bright future awaits.
Klopp showed faith and stuck with the youngster following a number of below-par displays
Critchley says more managers should follow Klopp’s lead and give young players a chance
He added: ‘A young player’s development is like a roller coaster, it is up and down. You are talking about a handful of players in the last 20 years whose careers have just gone straight up.
‘The true test is when you get that little bit of criticism then you have to respond and show what you are about as a player. The best ones do and Trent did that last night.
‘But like I say it is only one game. He did very well last night but there are some big games coming up and he needs to go again. Fingers crossed he can reproduce it. I have no doubt he can.”
After impressing on Wednesday evening, Alexander-Arnold will now hope to cement his place as first-choice right-back in Jurgen Klopp’s team ahead of a busy run of fixtures.
Liverpool face Everton in the Merseyside derby on Saturday, before making the short journey down the M62 to Manchester for the second leg of their Champions League tie on Tuesday.
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