Liverpool teammates let down £180k-a-week player today – Jurgen Klopp

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Jurgen Klopp believes his Liverpool players let Trent Alexander-Arnold down today. The Reds slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Brighton.

Liverpool are out of the FA Cup after a late winner from Brighton. It was a fantastic goal, to be fair, as Kaoru Mitoma juggled the ball at the back post before smashing it home.

Though, Jurgen Klopp could certainly have complaints about the defending. Again.

Mitoma was a dangerous player for Brighton once more here, having also caused chaos when the two sides met earlier this month. That saw quite a lot of criticism head Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s way – he’s the defender up against him, after all.

But talking in a post-match interview, Klopp moved to ease the pressure on his right-back. He felt the 24-year-old simply wasn’t given enough protection down his flank. That protection was afforded to Andy Robertson on the opposite side, however.

“On the left side Robbo was ok because we helped him but on the other side Trent didn’t get the support,” Klopp told the BBC. “Mitoma is really good so, of course, it was tough.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold for Liverpool

It’s absolutely true that Alexander-Arnold isn’t getting the same level of protection this season. Part of that – arguably most of that – comes from the midfield failing to function properly.

At its best, Liverpool’s midfield allows the right-sided of the three – typically Jordan Henderson – to drift out wide and cover the right-back. He can do that knowing that the other two midfielders would slide across and keep the middle solid.

But his drop-off in form, coupled with the midfield feeling more like a gate than a brick wall this season, removes a lot of that protection. Add in Mohamed Salah being a very aggressive winger and you end up with an isolated defender.

£180k-a-week Alexander-Arnold already isn’t a defender capable of solidifying a flank on his own. Few can at the top level. Take that protection away, though, and he’ll be vulnerable.

That’s what we’re seeing this season and until the midfield gets a proper fix, this problem will continue.