'I felt like a man' - Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold reveals key change he made in pre-season and recalls conversation with Jurgen Klopp that led to him being named Reds vice-captain

• Alexander-Arnold changes pre-season training
• Named Liverpool vice-captain
• Appears on podcast to discuss his development

WHAT HAPPENED? The Liverpool vice-captain has revealed the improved mentality he had over the summer, which allowed the England international to optimise his pre-season preparations ahead of the new campaign.

WHAT THEY SAID: "I think in previous seasons, without throwing myself under the bus, I've seen off-season as 'off-season' and I do my runs and I do my programme but in my head I've got three, four weeks of pre-season to really get ready for the season," he said on the We are Liverpool podcast.

"Before that, just get it ticking over a little bit and then head into pre-season.

"Whereas this pre-season, it was, 'I need to come back and I need to be in the shape that if the season was to start on the first day of pre-season then I'll be ready to start that game and play 90 minutes.' That was my mentality. I put that in in the summer. 

"It felt different as well. Coming back in, I felt like a man."

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Liverpool currently find themselves in fourth place within the Premier League table, with the full-back taking on more responsibility this season after being handed the vice-captaincy.

Speaking on the conversation with Jurgen Klopp where he informed him of the decision, Alexander-Arnold added:  "It's the day before the Leicester game and I'm thinking it's just going to be about the role that I'm playing again and how it's going to work and how to use it best against their set-up. He just goes on to say, 'Congratulations, you're the vice-captain of Liverpool Football Club.'

"Obviously at that point I want to come in and say, like, thank you and that. But he then carries on and says, 'We're going to have a leadership meeting with the rest of the lads.' He says, 'Nobody knows, don't tell too many people, but I'll tell the leadership group tonight. Obviously Virgil is going to be captain. But well done.'

IN A PHOTO:

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WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL? Many of Klopp's stars have linked up with their respective national teams, ahead of a return to domestic action where they will face their Merseyside rivals Everton on October 21.