07 February 2024 , 02:00
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Trent Alexander-Arnold has opened up on how the Liverpool dressing room felt upon hearing news of Jurgen Klopp's departure come the end of the campaign.
The Reds-right back conceded it was "not nice" to hear that a man who has been at the helm of the club ever since Alexander-Arnold broke into the first-team will be leaving this summer. However, the England international did make clear he'll do all he can to ensure Klopp gets an open-top bus parade before bidding farewell to Liverpool once and for all.
The German coach has confirmed he'll be stepping down from his role as Reds manager after nine years in the Anfield hot seat. Klopp conceded he no longer has the energy required to operate at the demanding level Liverpool will require beyond the current campaign.
As things stand, Liverpool sit top of the Premier League, two points ahead of nearest challengers Manchester City and Arsenal, though they have played one game more than Pep Guardiola's side. Their meeting on March 9 has been billed as the biggest title clash of the season.
The red half of Merseyside also have a League Cup final to look forward to later this month against Chelsea, as well as clashes in the round of 16 stage of both the FA Cup and Europa League.
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Alexander-Arnold and Klopp enjoy a stellar working relationship, with the latter once claiming that the decision to integrate the right-back into the first-team was the "best signing" of his Liverpool reign. The 25-year-old has since addressed his manager's upcoming exit.
"I was as shocked as anyone else, really, if not more," Alexander-Arnold explained. "It was a huge surprise to all of us. One that obviously is not nice but it's of course a personal decision that he's taking. You have to respect it.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Liverpool give Klopp the fairytale farewell? Comment below
Trent Alexander-Arnold has discussed his ideal send-off for Jurgen Klopp (AP)"I've loved absolutely every minute working with him and can't wait to finish the season, and excited to see what memories we can keep going on to make."
Pressed for comment on how he hopes he can give Klopp the perfect send-off, Alexander-Arnold added: "Cruising round Liverpool in an open-top bus. That's the fairytale ending that I think everyone hopes for and, for us players, that's our motivation.
"That was our motivation at the start of the season, that's our motivation now. Even more so is to give the manager the send-off he's deserved and he's earned. That's kind of what our aim is, to be going around Liverpool in an open-top bus."