Jamie Carragher believes Trent Alexander-Arnold's performance against Manchester United on Sunday was influenced by reports of a transfer bid from Real Madrid.
The Liverpool full-back has been heavily linked with a move to LaLiga at the end of the season, but last week reports suggested Madrid had made a £20million bid this month to complete the deal.
Alexander-Arnold was blamed for the first of United's two goals at Anfield and struggled to make an impact in possession, with Carragher claiming his below-par performance was no coincidence.
The pundit told Sky Sports: “I thought he was very poor. The game couldn't have been much worse for him, there would always be attention for him.
“I expected him to put in a performance that he has done so many times before, dominating the game from right back. He is a playmaker. I had the feeling that Manchester United's system would play into his hands, that there would be a lot of room to play.” He raises his head and crosses it.
“I thought he would think about the fact that everyone is talking negatively about him, and that he had done a great job. He was bad defensively, but nothing happened on the ball.”
“Only he knows if the conversation affected him, but the fact that he was so bad in the first game after Real Madrid made a bid tells me it must have affected him.”
Fellow pundit Gary Neville claimed Madrid's bid was “really bad timing for Alexander-Arnold” and that it “won't be easy, the distraction from all the noise”.
But Carragher suggested the 26-year-old had known the offer was coming all along and criticized the timing.
He said: “Why do Trent Alexander-Arnold's people think it's a good idea for him, knowing Liverpool are going to say no?
“He's being criticized that he might leave for free. If Real Madrid make an offer in January and Liverpool don't accept, they might say, 'Well, you've been offered 30 to 40 million.'”
It ends right at Anfield. #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/vcWjjjMlzo
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 5, 2025
Alexander-Arnold had the most touches of any Liverpool player during the match (97), but failed to make many, creating just one chance compared to a season average of 2.37.
United launched 53.8% of their attacks down Liverpool's left side, with the right-back failing to win any of his five matches and losing possession 27 times.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot claimed the struggle was down to the handling of two of United's best players on that flank.
Slot said: “What affected him is that he had to play against Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, two starters for Portugal. Great, great players.
“When these players focus on a match – and United does that from time to time – it is very difficult to play against them.
“I think this is more difficult for Trent to play against than the rumors that were going on during the week.”
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