'Seriously': Steve Nicol can't quite believe what he's just heard one Liverpool player say publicly

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Liverpool have been thriving so far this season under Arne Slot, winning five out of six games in all competitions.

There’s another chance for the Reds to underline the quality of their new boss on Wednesday, with a Carabao Cup clash against West Ham United on the calendar.

Part of what has been so impressive about Slot so far has been how the Liverpool head coach has improved his players.

The Liverpool squad is already packed full of top class, international stars. We knew that already.

However, Slot has so far been able to take some of them to the next level during his short time in charge. Ryan Gravenberch, for example, looks like a player reborn under his countryman.

Another player who has shown plenty of improvement has been Trent Alexander-Arnold. Looking much more solid defensively, the Liverpool academy graduate has spoken out to thank Slot for his help. But not everyone is impressed.

Steve Nicol baffled by Trent Alexander-Arnold

Alexander-Arnold has been in the news a fair bit since Saturday’s win over Bournemouth. The Liverpool right-back has been speaking publicly about his current contract situation.

This has led to plenty of discourse about him, with pundits such as Chris Sutton predicting whether Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool.

But his future at Anfield was not the only thing Trent discussed with reporters after registering an assist in the 3-0 victory at the weekend.

Alexander-Arnold spoke about how Slot is helping him defensively, highlighting the specific ways in which the Dutchman is ‘calling him out’ during team meetings after a defensive error.

READ MORE: What Trent Alexander-Arnold definitely won’t do during contract negotiations with Liverpool

This is a commendable approach which does seem to be paying off for the 25-year-old.

However, former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has questioned why it has taken Alexander-Arnold so long to realise that he needs help in this department.

“There are two things. The first thing is that's great to see,” Nicol told ESPN.

“The other question is, it's taken you this long to figure that out? I mean, seriously. All of a sudden, you figure out that you have not been defending properly. What has it taken you so long? I’m sorry.”

Steve Nicol raises fair question

It must be pointed out that Nicol is chuckling as he comments on Alexander-Arnold’s new-found defensive solidity. He isn’t having a pop at Trent.

The Liverpool legend can be outspoken at times, but it’s also worth saying that he does have a point here.

While Alexander-Arnold’s defensive fragilities are no doubt hugely overblown by certain sections of the press, it is safe to say that they do exist.

Quite why the Scouser has not been doing this kind of work previously is difficult to understand, as it clearly needed doing.

Nicol was named in Jamie Carragher’s all-time Liverpool XI recently and obviously knows a thing or two about defending. But if Trent can finally put this work in and get it right, there’s no reason he can’t join the Scotsman in there one day. It is the only thing missing from his skill-set.