Trent Alexander-Arnold ‘has definitely not dipped his head or is worried about anything’ amid plenty of criticism this season, says Liverpool teammate Joe Gomez.
The Reds have struggled so far this campaign, with defeat to Nottingham Forest at the weekend leaving them eighth in the Premier League with just four wins from 11 games.
Alexander-Arnold has come in for criticism from some pundits for his defending, being blamed for a number of mishaps at the back for the Reds.
Former and France centre-back and the 24-year-old remains down the pecking order at right-back for England, with the now just a few weeks away.
Gomez says there is no panic in the full-back, though, saying he has the ideal character to deal with criticism and he is continuing to train and play as normal, doing his best for the team at every turn.
‘Trent is probably one of the most level-headed people around,’ Gomez told . ‘He’s a real consistent character, obviously I can’t step in his shoes and feel what he feels or have his perspective.
‘But it’s obviously a by-product of how good Trent is as a player and all he’s achieved being so young. Obviously sometimes it doesn’t seem fair, but it’s part and parcel I guess.
‘But Trent definitely applies himself every day and controls what he can control and it’s a given he’s going to try and perform the best he can for the team, and that’s what he does, he tries to do it every week.
‘As players you can’t control what’s said about you and he’s obviously going to try and do the best he can.
‘But as a person and off the pitch he’s definitely himself and always keeps the same application every day and has definitely not dipped his head or is worried about anything I don’t think.’
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has been dismissive of criticism of his full-back, saying that perceived positioning problems are just due to the way Liverpool play.
‘When we do a high press Trent is often the highest of all those at the back. That is the way we play football,’ Klopp said last month. ‘Now, you can say: “You should defend better,” but you cannot have everything because if you want to play high press you need players in specific positions.
‘If the next ball goes long on that [right] side then Joël [Matip], Ibou [Konaté] or Joe [Gomez] has to cover him. It is the risk we take. It is not a crazy risk and we win the ball nine out of 10 times, but in the one moment we don’t win it people ask: “Where is Trent?” That is a question I don’t understand from people who watch football so often. People say that is his main job but I told him he has to be there [higher up the pitch].
‘Yes, there are other situations where he was not aware or there was a challenge he should have won. Every player has these challenges. But with him? Every time it is picked up and analysed, all the experts saying this is a weakness.
‘Honestly, I just don’t get it. A world-class talent gets judged by the one thing he is not as world class at as the other things? If he was not a good defender, he would not play.’
, .
, and .Follow Metro on Snapchat
You can follow our new , the go-to place for all things pop culture.
Keep up with the latest Showbiz exclusives by following .
And football fans can indulge in all the transfer gossip and more on .
