Trent Alexander-Arnold confirms things HAVE changed under Arne Slot

Trent Alexander-Arnold has talked about life under Arne Slot and confirms what's different under the new Liverpool boss.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the most interesting players to watch under Arne Slot. If only because his incredibly uncertain future makes you want to analyse every movement.

But it's also the case that this is the first time Alexander-Arnold has someone new. Everyone else in the Liverpool squad, Curtis Jones aside, operated under a different manager and style before heading to Liverpool.

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But Alexander-Arnold only knew Jurgen Klopp's system. It's the one he developed in and the one in which he became one of the most influential players on the planet.

He revolutionised the right-back position, adding creativity from the role that's never been seen before. Could he do that in a new way of playing under Slot?

Well, we haven't quite seen the same impact from Alexander-Arnold and the Scouser has now confirmed that things are indeed different under the Dutchman.

Trent Alexander-Arnold on life under Arne Slot

"[The role] depends on the game because if you think of Man United away, I played almost like a No.10. I was higher up the pitch because of the way they pressed," Alexander-Arnold told Liverpoolfc.com.

"In certain games I'll be inside because of the way they [the opposition] press – sometimes they press differently. It all varies on how they press."

Alexander-Arnold went on further, too, explaining that his role could now change mid-game if Slot wants it to. It's now all about exploiting the opposition's gameplan.

"The manager will dissect how they press so we can outnumber the way they press," he explained.

"If they press with three, we'll have four players around, so that we can play through them. If they press with a two then there'll be three players, et cetera, et cetera. It's just about who those players are and where it works best.

"So, wherever the manager tells me to be, I'll be there because he'll tell me that's most likely where you'll get the ball.

"And if that changes then he'll tell me during the game, 'You're not getting the ball there, try there and maybe surprise him in there and see if that works.'

"Throughout the game, there's a lot of things going on but if I understand it then it'll work. So far it has."

An explanation?

It goes a long to way to explaining why Alexander-Arnold's impact hasn't been as strong as it usually is this season. He's not quite delivering in the same way and the new way of handling games likely plays a large role.

For instance, he's playing far fewer progressive passes this season, down to 5.54 per 90 minutes from 8.58 last season. In fact, this is his lowest number since his debut season.

He's receiving fewer, too, as Alexander-Arnold is essentially never the furthest man forward anymore. The defender receives a progressive pass just 3.4 times per 90 - that number used to be as high as 7.4.

Alexander-Arnold is also playing fewer passes into the final third and the penalty area than at any other point in his career. Everything creatively has dropped.

This surely all explains why Alexander-Arnold has just one assist this season.

Only, it doesn't. The data tells us that Liverpool's vice-captain is actually creating roughly as many chances as he usually does. His expected assists per 90 is the second-highest of his career, too - players just aren't finishing the chances he creates for them.

So while his overall impact on games perhaps isn't as high as it was under Klopp, Alexander-Arnold is still very much a creative force. The changes are working and the more he adapts to them, the more influential he'll become.

All data per FBref.

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