Alexander-Arnold knuckles down to defensive duty but will he stay?
Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold challenges Bournemouth striker Justin Kluivert during the Premier League match at Anfield. Photo by Paul Ellis/ AFP
The immediate spotlight may have been on Luis Diaz's clinically taken double and the end of Darwin Nunez's goal drought but there was also a significant sub plot at Anfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold reached the impressive tally of 100 'goal involvements' for Liverpool while also playing his part in a fourth clean sheet in Arne Slot's first five Premier League games as manager.
Alexander-Arnold's surging 50-yard run and incisive pass that created Diaz's second goal was his 81st assist for the club and together with his 19 goals in all competitions brought up his century.
That means the Academy graduate is averaging virtually one goal involvement every three games from his 316 appearances for the club - not bad for someone who started out as a right back but has developed into one of the most creative players in the world.
"It is good numbers," he said with pride about his personal 'ton.'
"I think I am capable of many, many more if I am honest. The clean sheet today was a big one as well.
"For now I am completely focused on this season and how many goals, assists and clean sheets I can get and hopefully do enough to help us win the league."
Alexander-Arnold says criticism of his defensive work has been over the top but admits the demanding Slot is on his case to improve that side of his game with detailed video analysis of every match.
"We kind of talked about targets and aims and I said to him that I would like to be the defender that no one wants to come up against in Europe," he added. "We agreed that he will be harsh on me. If any time an attacker gets by me and gets past me he will call it out in team meetings and individual meetings and say this cannot happen.
"We go through every game together and he highlights where he wants me to improve. Even in the Milan game we had about 20 clips going through what I could have done better and the good parts as well.
"It is really refreshing to have a manager who will help and guide and teach me how to be better as a player. I am someone who wants to learn, someone who wants to be the best and someone who strives to be the best ever.
"That perception [of his poor defending] was perhaps harsh if I am honest. It was hard to kind of shrug off with just one good defensive game. But when you put a lot together, we have had four out of five clean sheets. That is exceptional from a backline.
"Defences win championships - that is the old saying - and being part of that defence means I have responsibilities to make sure my winger doesn’t get a sniff in the game. I lay targets for every game which is how many times am I dribbled past, how many times does he get a cross, how many times a shot."
As skillfully as he created Diaz's goal, Alexander-Arnold swerved the big question Liverpool followers want answered: is he going to sign a new contract with his current deal expiring at the end of the season and rumours that Real Madrid - he is a close friend of England team-mate Jude Bellingham - would like him to join their galaxy of stars at the Bernabeu.
"Look, I have been at the club 20 years now, I have signed four or five contract extensions and none of those have been played out in public," he said. "And this one won’t be either. I want to be a Liverpool player this season as a minimum is what I will say."
As he approaches his 26th birthday next month, he says Liverpool's capability of winning trophies under Slot will play a big part in his decision - and the possibility of becoming a future captain is big lure.
"The most important thing is always trophies if I am honest. I want to win trophies, I am a player who is highly motivated by trophies and winning things and being elite. So that is probably the main factor, if you have a personality that is elite, who wants to win and will do anything to win, then that is what drives me.
"We were close to the title last season and we won a cup [the League cup]. The 'quadruple' was on for a while I suppose, the signs were there. This season we are looking really good, it is still early days, but we need a lot of consistency and beat a lot of teams over the course of this season. It will be difficult but we are looking to win as many trophies as we can."
"I have always said I want to captain the club, that is an aim of mine and a goal of mine, whether that happens is out of my hands."
Kelleher 7; Alexander-Arnold 8, Konate 7, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 7; Gravenberch 7, Mac Allister 7, Szoboszlai 6 (Jones 60, 6); Salah 6, Nunez 7 (Chiesa 72, 6), Diaz 9 (Gakpo 72, 7).
Jaros, Gomez, Jota, Tsimikas, Quansah, Bradley.
Kepa 6; Araujo 5 (Smith 69, 5), Zabarnyi 6, Huijsen 6, Kerkez 6; Cook 6 Christie 5 (Scott 69, 5), Semenyo 5 (Sinisterra 69, 5), Kluivert 5 (Quattara 46, 6), Tavernier 5; Evanilson 4 (Unal 75, 5) Travers, Senesi, Brooks, Hill.
Tony Harrington 7.
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