Trent Alexander-Arnold's shaky performance against Manchester United was influenced by suggestions of a recent bid from Real Madrid, says Jamie Carragher.
The Liverpool right-back, who has been heavily linked with Real this week, had a game to forget as United frustrated the Premier League leaders with a 2-2 draw at Anfield on Super Sunday.
Alexander-Arnold, now in the final six months of his contract with his boyhood club, struggled to impose himself and was at fault for the visitors' first goal.
“I thought he was very poor,” Carragher said. “The match couldn't have gone much worse for him, the focus would always be on 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.
“They would have known what happened,” Carragher continued, referring to Alexander-Arnold's representatives.
“I'm not naive enough to think that Real Madrid would have made a bid in January for a player that they could get for nothing within four months.
“Do you honestly believe that if this bid comes in, they'll sit at home and see it on Sky Sports and say 'wow!' Of course they do.”
Alexander-Arnold was eventually substituted – replaced by alternate right-back Conor Bradley – in the closing stages of the match and Gary Neville wondered whether what he called an 'abusive' bid from Real had played a role.
“I think the Real Madrid offer is bad timing for him,” Neville said.
“I don't know what's going to happen, whether he's going to leave Liverpool and go to Real Madrid or not, but if you have that when you go to a big match, you're also a local boy, who It won't be easy, the distraction from all that noise.
“Real Madrid are a great animal. To be honest, I thought it was an insult to Real Madrid. They behave like that sometimes, they think they can get what they want.”
“Liverpool is a football club with huge status. They will never sell Trent Alexander-Arnold for £20 million in January, so you're taking the mickey a bit. I think that probably made him nervous this week.”
“Some guys see Liverpool and Manchester United as part of their career. It's great and they love it, but they want to explore it.
“When I look at Trent, he looks like a boy who wants to discover Real Madrid. He wants to play in different parts of the world.”
Neville continued: “He probably feels he doesn't get the respect he deserves in this country. I have been critical of his defensive performance.
“If someone came for me, I would never leave my club. That doesn't mean I was right. Jamie thinks Trent's people invited the Real Madrid bid, I personally think that's a big suggestion.”
Marcel turned to his fellow pundit and asked: “Why do Trent Alexander-Arnold's people think it's a good idea that he knows Liverpool are going to say no?”
Defending his claim, Carragher replied: “Because he is facing criticism that he could now leave for free if Real Madrid make a bid in January and Liverpool don't accept it, maybe they can say 'well you got £30m to £40m offered.” ', for me it was to buy some time if he went for free, they can say Liverpool were offered £20 million, £30 million to £40 million.
Slot supports TAA, but accepts that others will blame the Madrid link
Arne Slot admitted that people will think Alexander-Arnold's performance was influenced by rumors about his future.
The Liverpool manager does not believe the speculation has had a major impact but accepts that other people will view the matter differently.
The Dutchman said: “I think nine out of ten people will tell you it has affected him. I'm (the) one of ten who tells you that I don't think it affected him.
“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 Trent is more difficult to play against than the rumors that were going on during the week.
“But that's my opinion, and everyone will probably tell you it has to do with the rumors.”
Trent for Tranmere?
Roy Keane suggested Alexander-Arnold should move to Tranmere instead of Real Madrid after criticizing his 'schoolboy defence' against Manchester United.
Analyzing the chances for Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund after questionable defending, Keane said: “It's too easy. We talk about how brilliant Trent is going forward, but Trent is defending today – my goodness, it looks like schoolboy stuff.”
“There is talk about him leaving for Real Madrid, the way he defends going to Tranmere Rovers next. He has to do better.”
Sturridge: It's a loss for Trent either way
However, former team-mate Daniel Sturridge showed a degree of empathy for the under-fire full-back, but felt the club has put him in a difficult position with his supporters with just six months left on his contract.
“He's a professional guy,” Sturridge said. “It's not his personality not to be focused on the game. Trent can defend better, but there were times when he didn't have any help either.
“It's a lose-lose either way. Everyone involved in the football club should want him to stay. The club knows Trent's contract is expiring.
“His contract still runs for six months. None of the three should be in this predicament. We are not aware that any contracts have been offered and rejected. Jurgen's departure was a spanner in the works for everyone.”
“If he leaves with the number of games he has played for Liverpool, show a bit of class and say 'all the best to you',” Keane added before admitting his form must return to usual levels before the Reds win can win the title. title.
“What could derail it is if he defends like this for the rest of the season. You have to defend better.”
Comments