Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has taken fresh aim at his critics.
The fullback has not been at his best this season as Jurgen Klopp 's side struggled with injuries and consistency. As a result, his place in the England squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has come under question, with even Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate admitting there are a number of players ahead of him in the pecking order at right-back.
“I think that's something people don't really understand if I'm honest," he told Red Bull. “We don't play a normal style of football. When things are going well, people praise it.
“But when things aren't going right (it's), 'They don't defend like they used to' or 'They don't defend like they're supposed to...they're supposed to be doing this, they're supposed to be doing that.'
“But last year, when we nearly won every trophy possible, that wasn't a problem because we were winning games. It was 'Trent's changed the position, he's changed the role. Changed how right-backs play the game or full-backs play the game.'
“Now it's like, 'He doesn't defend like a full-back used to or a full-back's supposed to.' Well if I've changed the game, then surely you can't have one without the other.
“As a team, all you can do is play how you're told to play. If that means that people don't understand it and people misconstrue it and don't really understand the way we play down to a tee, then that happens.
“I'm sure I have opinions on players that are told to do certain things in their team that I would say is wrong, but no, the game is the game. As long as everyone's playing how they feel is right, then who are we to all judge?
“I think I've got a good mindset when it comes to it. I've always understood and I've gotten used to it from a young age. People say a lot of things, people talk a lot, people have their own opinions.
“It is what it is and people are entitled to that. I've always just seen it as I know what I need to do and then just get on with it. It's work at the end of the day, it's part and parcel with it."
