'They have no idea about football' - Klopp hits back at Alexander-Arnold critics

Jurgen Klopp has dismissed criticism of Trent Alexander-Arnold following his lacklustre defending for the opening goal in Liverpool's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday.

Alexander-Arnold was turned too easily by Marcus Rashford, who lashed into the far corner to give United the lead before the England forward took advantage of more haphazard defending from Liverpool to double the Red Devils' advantage.

An Eric Bailly own goal gave Liverpool hope but they could not complete a second-half comeback at Old Trafford, with club legends Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness taking aim at Alexander-Arnold.

Klopp, though, has no interest in their thoughts on the teenage right back.

Asked about their comments, he said: "I don't get it. If you wouldn't tell me [about it], I would never watch it. That makes absolutely no difference to me, what people say.

"What did they say? They said we defended bad? If somebody said it was only Trent's mistake, then the guy who said that has no idea about football and I wouldn't listen.

"Dejan Lovren, in the first challenge, could be different, but it's difficult. We were not there for the second ball and then it's Trent.

"I have to see it back again but when I saw the goal, for me Rashford did brilliantly and, exactly in the moment where Trent is ready for the challenge, he made a cut back.

"He stepped too late and in the next moment he shoots. It's the perfect striker movement and we cannot defend everything.

“I think we deserved the goal and then it was the situation with the best piece of football in the whole game, the one-two between Roberto and Sadio and a clear foul and no penalty. That’s hard, but not to change anymore.

“I think with all the minutes around the two goals we conceded then a draw would have been deserved for us, but because we made these two mistakes we have to take the result like it is.

“It feels massively rubbish and that’s not nice. We will carry on, of course, but in the moment it’s a big disappointment.”

Liverpool will have had a week to get over that disappointment by the time they take to the field again, with Watford due at Anfield for their next outing on Saturday.