Liverpool boss Arne Slot has revealed why he was not “happy” with Real Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold prior to their last match of the season.
Slot performed a sensational task during his debut campaign in Liverpool and helps the club to win their 20th Premier League title with four more games.
Alexander-Arnold has confirmed that he will leave this summer at the expiry of his deal and he is expected to join Real Madrid to a free transfer.
Alexander-Arnold was booed by Liverpool fans in their last home game and he was an unused replacement on Monday evening when they met Brighton, so it is still too seen whether he will appear on Sunday afternoon against Crystal Palace on the last day of the 2024/25 campaign.
In anticipation of this competition, Slot has revealed that for one reason he has not been 'completely happy' with Alexander-Arnold, as a 'first gift' for Real Madrid-bound Xabi Alonso is brutally presented.
“I have spoken to him more recently and I think that is the biggest difference between me and all those who have a purple container (living in the center of Liverpool),” said Slot.
“I speak to humans. I speak with Trent every day. That combined with winning something creates a different bond than perhaps what the fans have with him.
“In the preseason he was a lot in my office-to-and-other reasons and now he is in my office. I think M has already said a few things about why he was in my office in the preseason and there were similar reasons why Trent was in my office at the start of the season!
“Maybe he said it himself, he will leave anyway, so why not tell. Perhaps it is already a first gift that I can give Xabi Alonso. But I was not completely happy with every minute how he was on the training field.
“In my opinion, he could do a little more at certain times, to say the light, and that's what we were talking about.
“Combined with that, I said to him:” You are a much better defender than everyone tells you, unfortunately you don't always show it, that's why people sometimes say that you are not. “
“If he is just working on it and is focused and focused, there are not many players who can go around him because he is fast, he is agile, he has a big mentality.”
Slot has also refused to confirm whether Alexander-Arnold gets playing time during the weekend.
“I haven't decided about that yet. This should be the day that everyone should enjoy. It is 35 years ago that Fans of Liverpool have been waiting at the moment,” Slot added.