05 October 2023 , 04:00
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Trent Alexander-Arnold is confident that while there has been a massive overhaul of the Liverpool team, the same ambition to win trophies remains as strong and passionate as ever.
There has been a changing of the guard at Anfield, with long term skipper Jordan Henderson and his equally enduring vice-captain James Milner departing the club in the summer, meaning a new leadership group amongst the players.
Alexander-Arnold - as the new vice captain - is one of the five strong group of senior players who make up that group, along with new skipper Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Mo Salah and keeper Alisson.
And he explained, as the Reds take on Union SG in the group stage of the Europa League, that the new leadership group has passed on the SAME mentality to the new players, ensuring the mentality of winners remains.
“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,” he explained.
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“That mentality 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.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is a leader in the new-look Liverpool side (PA)“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.”
Alexander-Arnold is the youngest of the leadership group by some distance, but boss Jurgen Klopp made him vice-captain and second in command because of his development since he was a teenager, and his commitment to the team.
The full-back lauded Liverpool's effort in the loss at Tottenham (ASHLEY WESTERN/Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock)“It's important that the boys understand the work behind the honour, let me say it like that. I think it's a really good decision,” Klopp said of the 24-year-old’s promotion, and added: “He’s representing everything about this club.”
And the England star explained that the mentality which he has been able to pass on to a complete new four-man midfield unit at Anfield, along with the younger players who are following the same path as him, was strongly evident at Tottenham last week.
Despite defeat, the character they showed with nine men was outstanding, and he said: “On Saturday it was an outstanding performance in the circumstances we were in.
“We are proud of what we did and could've easily come away with a point there. But aside the circumstances of what happened, we lost the game. And no matter how that happens, then motivation is you have to win the next two. That's the mentality.”
Liverpool are strong favourites to lift the Europa League after their summer overhaul, and they have already shown in adversity they are capable of getting involved in the title conversation once more.
And Alexander-Arnold believes if they can stay in the hunt until the turn of the year, then they can start to believe in their chances of top honours again, after a disappointing campaign last time around.
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“We feel we've laid a good foundation already, but it's still early doors, to be able to judge where we are,” he explained. “I think you really get a feel for what you can achieve around Christmas.
“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.”
Klopp is likely to rotate heavily again against the Belgian side, with Alexander-Arnold coming back from injury to lead Liverpool on Thursday.