Liverpool’s vice-captain has grown close to Szoboszlai ever since the latter arrived at the club from RB Leipzig this past July.
The pair’s drive and determination on the pitch is clear to see, but they’ve found they’re just as compatible when not going all out in training or in the hunt for points on matchdays.
“[He’s] similar to me, to be fair,” Alexander-Arnold explained to Sky Sports. “I’d say off the pitch, away from football, very relaxed, laidback, downtime, chill. We take our minds away from football.
“Whereas when we’re in a football environment around the training ground, in training, in games, we fight for every single thing and we want to bring the best out of the players we’re with.
I think that’s why we get on so well – because we share the same ideas and the same kind of mentality towards the game. We give everything and we expect results and we’re both really competitive.”
Szoboszlai was one of four midfielders recruited to Anfield by Jürgen Klopp in the summer transfer window, along with Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch.
“I think any time there’s new players coming in, it’s always exciting – whether it’s in the summer or in the winter,” Alexander-Arnold assessed. “New players are always exciting for us, for them to come in.
“The lads have really bought in to what we’re trying to achieve and have shown signs that they want to achieve the same things.
We’re all pushing together to achieve the biggest things that football can offer.”
The arrivals have helped Liverpool make a hugely encouraging start to the 2023-24 season on multiple fronts.
Going into Sunday’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion, the Reds have won five of their seven Premier League fixtures, while earning three more victories in the Europa League and Carabao Cup.
Alexander-Arnold said: “[It’s a] good start, good foundations have been set across all the competitions we’ve played in. I think we’ve felt it ourselves, most importantly.
“Other people will have their opinions whether we’re capable of doing it or not. We, deep down, know what we’re capable of doing and what our expectations are.
“It’s about demanding that from each other on a daily basis to make sure we get the results in order to achieve what we want to go and achieve this season – which is [to] win trophies.”
