Liverpool already know Trent Alexander-Arnold truth after suggestion that irked Virgil van Dijk

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Virgil van Dijk was left irritated when quizzed about Liverpool's right-back situation and the impact of Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure on the Reds' recent form following their loss to Chelsea.Theo Squires was appointed Liverpool FC Writer for the Liverpool ECHO in 2021, after covering EURO 2020 at Wembley as England reached their first major men's final since 1966. They were two points clear at the top with an 100% winning record and were the highest scorers in the Premier League.Summer signing Hugo Ekitike was shining, the Reds were still pursuing both Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi, and it appeared to be business as normal for the reigning Premier League champions.They would win a further four games following their return to domestic action, and would see their ranks bolstered by the British record signing of Isak on transfer deadline day.READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold agreement reached as Liverpool sent clear messageREAD MORE: Alexander Isak plan revealed as manager fires dig at Newcastle after Liverpool transferBut with top performances not accompanying their results, they were brought crashing back down to earth last week as Arne Slot's men fell to three successive defeats.Consequently, Liverpool now head into October's international break stuck in something of a mini-blip - having surrendered top spot to Arsenal, carrying injury problems and with Slot left having to contend with a number of issues he will need to solve in a bid to help his Reds side rediscover top form.Liverpool embarked on a £450m spending spree in the summer as they brought in 10 new players, but they also banked over £200m by selling a number of their Premier League-winning stars.This included both Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the Reds' recent loss of form inevitably prompting scrutiny over how much Liverpool are missing that particular pair.Diaz has been in electrifying form for Bayern Munich and boasts six goals and four assists from his first 10 outings following his £65.5m transfer.He has already won his first trophy with the Bavarians after scoring the would-be winner on his debut against VfB Stuttgart in the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup.Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has already pointed to the departure of the Colombian as one of the reasons why the Reds are struggling this season, at a time when Slot's new-look attack is struggling to gel, and both Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo are struggling for form.It is an easy narrative to push considering Diaz's contrasting fortunes to those he left behind at Anfield, especially following a third-successive defeat where Liverpool struggled in front of goal.But the debate regarding Alexander-Arnold is slightly more puzzling, despite the England international's obvious quality, given its complete contrast to just a few weeks ago.After all, at a time when the Reds were top of the league with an 100% record, the regular reports from Spain were of how the 26-year-old was, at best, underwhelming and, at worst, struggling for Real Madrid.Some reports claimed Xabi Alonso and his coaching staff were left unimpressed with the England international's defensive abilities.

Others even wildly suggested he could be moved on in January.If there was ever any doubt, the added scrutiny that comes with being a Real Madrid player has been very much apparent for Alexander-Arnold since moving to Spain.He had found himself in and out of Alonso's starting XI, before suffering a hamstring injury early on in the La Liga giants' Champions League win over Marseille last month.Making 10 appearances for the Spanish outfit to date, half of them came in last summer's FIFA Club World Cup, while he had started only twice in La Liga before his untimely injury, coming after less than five minutes on September 16.At the time, it was feared that Alexander-Arnold could miss out a return to Anfield in the Champions League on November 4, but recent reports suggest he could now be back fit in time for an El Clasico debut against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on October 26.Before his injury, no-one was suggesting that Liverpool were missing their former homegrown star.But four weeks and three defeats later and it is a very different story at Anfield, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong all enjoying mixed success in the position Alexander-Arnold left behind.Szoboszlai initially impressed in the absence of the injured Bradley and Frimpong, against Newcastle United and Arsenal, but conceded the penalty that led to Galatasaray's winner while Chelsea's own decisive strike also came from his flank.Bradley was withdrawn at half-time against both Palace and Chelsea, while Frimpong struggled against Southampton before seemingly being called out by Slot for his role in the Eagles' winner.Then utilised as a right-winger against Galatasaray, he was left unused against Chelsea.It has prompted plenty of debate regarding Liverpool's right-back options and Slot's chopping and changing.And it is one that prompted a spiky response from captain Virgil van Dijk when he was quizzed on the Reds' right-back situation and impact of losing Alexander-Arnold following their loss to Chelsea."It's not about him [Alexander-Arnold]. But he would not suddenly be a magic wand for Slot if still on the Reds' books either.Their defence is still not at its best, while Alexander-Arnold's own defensive qualities are something that were regularly questioned by outsiders throughout his time at Anfield.Funny how quickly that is conveniently forgotten when Liverpool are the ones in the firing line, rather than the former Red.Besides, he is still injured.

Little he could do for Slot and his side from the treatment table even if still on their books.And even if he were to hypothetically both be available and still a Liverpool player, let's not forget the Reds are still a new-look side that are understandably taking its time to gel while also grieving the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.While an unchanged right-back would have perhaps aided that transition, Liverpool would still be fielding a new left-back, a new number 10 and a new-look attack, as well as a new goalkeeper following Alisson Becker's latest hamstring injury.Slot's side is missing Alexander-Arnold to an extent. Any side would miss a player of such natural quality, especially after nine years with his boyhood club, but that does not mean he would be their solution, either.Both the Reds and Alexander-Arnold can still look to settle the score next month and provide their own answers in such a debate, though, should the former No.66 be back fit and they indeed lock horns at Anfield on November 4.Liverpool face five fixtures before then as they host arch rivals Manchester United, travel to Eintracht Frankfurt and Brentford before taking on Crystal Palace in the League Cup and welcome Aston Villa to Anfield at the start of the next month.While Slot might not have a first-choice right-back heading into October's international break, the Reds need that to change once club duties resume.Easier said than done, granted, given both Bradley and Frimpong have already been stung by injury this season, but it's the only way to silence the right-back questions that left Van Dijk so irritated.In contrast, Alexander-Arnold will look to heighten such a debate and show Liverpool exactly what they are missing following his decision to depart.But regardless of the outcome, there is still more to fix in Slot’s new-look squad than just one position.