Jurgen Klopp has shouldered the blame for Trent Alexander-Arnold’s struggles against Marcus Rashford during Liverpool’s defeat at Manchester United just over two years ago.
The Liverpool full-back has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the first-team set up under Klopp and has established himself as arguably the finest attacking right-back in world football, though the youngster endured a chastening afternoon at the home of the club’s bitter rivals back in 2018.
Making just his 15th start in the Premier League, the full-back was horribly exposed against his now England international teammate – Rashford scoring twice in a 2-1 victory for Manchester United.
Klopp has now opened up on what was a torrid experience for the then teenage talent, and has accepted the blame for his part in a fixture described by Alexander-Arnold as the ‘toughest’ of his fledgeling career.
“I know after the United game a lot of people said immediately – and that’s how it always is in football – ‘they need a new right-back’ or whatever,” Klopp said on the Pure Football Podcast.
“If he makes mistakes like he made in that game that’s really my fault. Especially these mistakes were my fault.
“He doesn’t know to close the inside in these situations. It is of course my mistake. You can say he knows it but he has to use it as well.
“Especially against Rashford playing on the left-wing, it is clear you have to do that but I didn’t tell him again before the game. So, I really feel responsible for that.”
Luke Shaw praises ‘leader’ Bruno Fernandes after ‘amazing’ start to life at Manchester United
See also – Manchester United – A story of rebellion from outcasts to seagulls
