“He has speed, he is cheeky, he goes inside, he can go outside" - Jurgen Klopp's comments on Kvaratskhelia resurface amid Liverpool links
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's thoughts on Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have come to the fore once again after the side's links with the player. The German was full of praise for the Georgian, lauding his ball-carrying ability and speed.
Following a 2-0 win for his side over Napoli in the UEFA Champions League in November 2022, Klopp outlined the attacker's battle with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“He has speed, he is cheeky, he goes inside, he can go outside, that makes it always really difficult,” Klopp said (via TBR Football).
“A good player and I thought Trent played a really good game against him, he was really on fire, he was really in, didn’t get frustrated by one or two situations where he was second-best, stayed in the game and I liked Trent’s game tonight.”
Reports have suggested that Kvaratskhelia is considering a move away from the Italian club in the January transfer window. Alongside Liverpool, The Athletic claims that Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea have also expressed interest in signing him.
However, the player could demand a high transfer fee, something that may not happen in the midst of the season. Further, Conte's men are at the top of Serie A and might not want to lose a talented player.
The 23-year-old could be a fantastic addition to a Liverpool squad that already boasts talented options in attack. Spearheaded by Mohamed Salah, the likes of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, and Cody Gakpo have all contributed well to the side's sensational campaign.
Arne Slot backs Liverpool star despite defensive troubles
Liverpool manager Arne Slot refused to blame Trent Alexander-Arnold when asked about the side's defensive performances. Ahead of their FA Cup third-round clash against Accrington Stanley on Saturday, he said (via the BBC):
"I do see a certain pattern in the goals we concede but I don't see the pattern if it is about Trent. Not at all."
"Trent has had one difficult game for us [in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Anfield] and maybe a few that were OK to good. Mainly, he has had great games when he played for us this season."
This comes after the right-back had a game to forget in their 2-2 draw against Manchester United in the Premier League at Anfield. Both of the Red Devils' goals came from his flank, with many questioning his effort off the ball in the game.
He put in a much more improved performance coming off the bench in Liverpool's 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg. He is set to become a free agent in the summer.
