Arne Slot Explains Trent Alexander-Arnold Substitution; Player VISIBLY Disheartened vs Brentford

Under Arne Slot, Liverpool kept up their great start with a commanding 2-0 victory over Brentford at Anfield. The Reds were guaranteed a victory by goals from Luis Diaz in the 13th minute and Mohamed Salah in the 70th. With 19 shots and 63% possession, Liverpool proved more effective; Brentford battled with only 8 efforts on target. With two victories from two games, this outcome ranks Liverpool fourth in the Premier League and sets a good tone for their next games. 

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Arne Slot provides his view on Trent-Alexander Arnold’s substitution vs Brentford 

Arne Slot has clarified the rationale for replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold for Liverpool's Premier League game against Brentford, which came off with a 2-0 Reds win at Anfield on Sunday.

With an assist from Diogo Jota in the 13th minute, Luis Díaz helped Liverpool score the first goal; Mohamed Salah then increased the advantage with a goal set up by Díaz in the 70th minute.

Alexander-Arnold was hauled out in the 72nd minute, replaced by Conor Bradley. Slot shed light on his choice to replace the English defender 25 years old (via GOAL):

“I understand. Every player wants to play 90 minutes but I don’t think the players that were on the bench from the start were really happy with the choice I made.”

"Trent came back from the national team, where in the beginning of the tournament he played quite a lot and then he didn’t. He had a few weeks off, came back and it is only his third game and we have to take care of him. We need him for the whole season and not only for the first two games. The good thing for me is that I have a very good backup as well with Conor, that means we are taking care of Trent, but he played a good game," 

"I think Trent has many qualities, and one of them is the crosses from the side," 

"If we only play him in the midfield he can only pass the ball, which he can of course do quite well. But I also want him in dangerous crossing positions."

“We try to influence players as much as we can before the game to say where could open gaps for you to come in. Nine times out of 10 the teams do something different than against other teams. He has the freedom to go anywhere. Trent is a difficult one to play against.”

It had not been done since Graeme Souness in April 1991 that Liverpool had won their first two league matches under a new manager, but Arne Slot became the first after the Brentford victory to accomplish this remarkable feat. On September 1, Liverpool's next Premier League test will take place against Manchester United at Old Trafford.