Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Trent Alexander-Arnold had a good game against Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Against a free-scoring Napoli side under Luciano Spalletti, Liverpool were in for a challenging game against the Italian giants. The Reds’ right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold was certainly in for a tough duel with Georgian international Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the right side of the defence.

Notably, Trent’s opposite number on the night is a transfer target for Jurgen Klopp. On a night where most people expected the Reds’ academy graduate to have a tough game, the Scouser was mostly rigid in defence in a good result for Liverpool, winning 2-0.

Two late goals from Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, both corner-kick-induced, made sure that the Reds secured a positive win heading into the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League.

Besides, apart from the odd occasion where the Georgian was faster to the ball than Trent, the Scouser was sturdier than his usual self in the backline and did not give much to Khvicha to cash in on. The Reds’ gaffer afterwards added that Trent was good, and here is what he had to say via Liverpool Echo:

“Trent played a really good game against him, was really on fire. Didn’t get frustrated by one or two situations where he was second-best. Stayed in the game. I liked Trent’s game tonight.”

Trent has certainly not been in the best of forms this season and heading into this game as well, there were doubts about his defensive stability and the form of Liverpool against one of the world’s most in-form teams and players in Khvicha. Despite those doubts, Trent emerged as one of the best players for the Reds on the night.

Good Result for the Reds

Leo Østigard’s attempt early in the second half got ruled out for offside which gave the Reds a bit of a breather approaching the rest of the game. Liverpool left it late and eventually got their reward via a Salah goal.

Alex Meret blocked Darwin Nunez’s headed attempt from a Kostas Tsimikas corner, which fell neatly to Salah’s feet and he rifled it into the goal in the 85th minute. Later, a similar chance came to boot for Nunez, when Meret blocked another one of Van Dijk’s headers and the Uruguayan just had to tap it beyond the keeper.

Good result on the Continental level, but domestically, the Reds are still struggling and hopefully, Klopp’s boys get a good result against Tottenham Hotspur this Sunday.

Ahead of the international break for the World Cup, the Reds play two league fixtures, against Spurs and Southampton. A Carabao Cup fixture against Derby County also ensures before most Reds head towards Qatar to represent their nations.

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• Italian giants eye Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita on a free transfer

Liverpool bounce back after their loss at the weekend, but it is important to carry this momentum in the Premier League as well wherein the Reds are visibly struggling in the ninth position on the table.