Virgil Van Dijk Reveals Liverpool Plan For Trent Alexander-arnold Return

Virgil van Dijk played down nan affectional quality of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Anfield homecoming, insisting alternatively that Liverpool “have to make it very difficult” for their erstwhile teammate and his Real Madrid colleagues.

Alexander-Arnold’s return to Merseyside has dominated nan buildup to Tuesday night’s weighty Champions League conflict between 2 members of European royalty. The Liverpool academy postgraduate near his boyhood nine nether a unreality aft moving down his statement and is bracing himself for a frosty reception from embittered fans.

As Van Dijk was speedy to constituent out, Alexander-Arnold won’t beryllium coddled connected nan transportation either.

“I deliberation Trent is simply a value player,” nan 34-year-old warned. “He showed it truthful galore times. He’s a very talented subordinate and he was important for america each those years. I was very happy to person him successful my squad and we person been very successful. But now he's an force connected Tuesday. If he plays past we person to make it very difficult for him to do what he’s bully at.”

Liverpool person felt nan pinch of Alexander-Arnold’s imaginative absence, none much truthful than Mohamed Salah, yet whether he moreover gets onto nan transportation is still up successful nan aerial for a subordinate who has spent nan past six weeks retired injured.

Van Dijk was much concerned pinch a tactical domination of Alexander-Arnold alternatively than a dispute ambiance from Anfield. “I’m not going to remark connected that,” nan Dutch skipper said erstwhile asked astir his preferred guidance from nan crowd. “I deliberation he’s been outstanding successful his clip astatine Liverpool.”

For each his praise of Alexander-Arnold’s ability, Van Dijk revealed that he’s had constricted interaction pinch his erstwhile teammate of almost a decade. “Not much, no. Nothing individual whatsoever. Obviously I unrecorded my life and he lives his life successful Madrid.”

During Arne Slot’s (right) first play astatine Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold led nan squad for crosses into nan box, progressive passes and was only 2nd to Mohamed Salah successful assists. / Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Liverpool head Arne Slot wouldn’t beryllium drawn connected his team’s tactical accommodations for nan fullback, but admitted that he had “no clue” whether nan Anfield crowd would warmly person Alexander-Arnold.

“I tin only show you what benignant of reception he gets from me,” a beaming Slot told assembled media. “I person awesome memories of nan subordinate and nan quality being. He was my vice skipper past play and I person memories of moving pinch him which were only affirmative and person memories from watching him connected tv which were only affirmative arsenic well—I tin retrieve aggregate awesome moments of his successful a Liverpool shirt.”

Ryan Gravenberch plans connected delivering a lukewarm invited of his own. “When I spot him, I’ll springiness him a hug,” Liverpool’s defensive midfielder smiled. “He’s a friend.”

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