Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has defended right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The 22-year-old's season was brought into focus after he wasn't picked for England's recent World Cup qualifiers.

He has since assisted or scored in Liverpool's last two league matches, including the winner against Aston Villa last weekend.

Asked if Alexander-Arnold 'raised his game' at the weekend, Klopp said: "Yes, [that's] what you always expect from each player.

"It's a little bit of a problem for me to answer your question because it always looks like he didn't play well before. We didn't play a brilliant season, we know that, so far. Trent had a difficult start and then from a specific moment played a really good season.

"Did he play exactly as good as he could have played or played in the past? I don't even know 100 per cent. But then it started this discussion [that] he 'raises his game'. He had assists for us before that.

"Yes, it's a special situation, he reacted really well and that's important. But it's not that he was in a dark place and had to lift himself out of that, he just didn't get selected for England, that was all."