Jurgen Klopp ‘extremely proud’ of Alexander-Arnold after World Cup call-up

Jurgen Klopp ‘extremely proud’ of Alexander-Arnold after World Cup call-up

Jurgen Klopp says he is ‘extremely proud’ of defender Trent Alexander-Arnold after the youngster was named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup. 

Klopp had the honour of giving the news to the 19-year-old, who only this season broke into Liverpool’s first team.

The German told TAA at John Lennon Airport on Wednesday morning as the Reds prepared to depart for a training camp in Marbella, and revealed he was ‘honoured’ to see the look in the defender’s eyes when he found out he was bound for Russia.

“It is nice, a nice story,” Klopp said. “Gareth Southgate gave me a call this morning and told me that I am allowed to tell him, but then I had some press work to do and didn’t have time.

“So, in the bus to the plane, I saw Trent for the first time. I thought maybe he knew already and someone else had called him. I had the honour of telling him and it was nice to see the reaction in his eyes. It’s fantastic, it’s well deserved, what a season. What a season! Can you be too young? No. You can be not good enough – but he is good enough.

“It’s just a wonderful little piece more which makes this season special, even before the last game [against Real Madrid].”

Alexander-Arnold’s team-mate Jordan Henderson was also named in Southgate’s 23-man squad, while Adam Lallana was placed on the standby list.

“For Adam, it’s a great thing as well,” continued Klopp, “After that season with only three or four games, I don’t think that any other player would have been in the mind of the manager, but Gareth really likes him.

“He is only on standby, OK, but in his situation that’s the best thing. He can train with us and then go to the national team and train there. Then, if anything happens, Gareth Southgate knows he has a fantastic player on standby.

“Hendo as well, not to forget – our skipper is going to the World Cup and I am happy about that as well!

“All three, well deserved. It’s really nice.”

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