Trent Alexander-Arnold Criticized After Liverpool's Draw with United

Trent Alexander-Arnold once again became a focal point after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United. The 26-year-old right-back has frequently made headlines, whether for his creative brilliance or concerns over his defensive capabilities. On Sunday, it was the latter that dominated discussions. Alexander-Arnold struggled against Diogo Dalot and manager Jurgen Klopp replaced him with Conor Bradley in the 86th minute. He received heavy criticism on social media and from pundits including former United captain Roy Keane.

Keane slammed his defending, suggesting that if Alexander-Arnold continues in this manner, he may not even be playing in League Two. In response, Tranmere Rovers jokingly welcomed Alexander-Arnold with a social media post. The defensive issues arose as both United goals and most of their attacking play came down Alexander-Arnold’s side. He failed to win any of his five duels, allowing Dalot to create opportunities without resistance.

Despite only being dribbled past twice, Alexander-Arnold gave Dalot too much space to deliver crosses. On the ball, however, Alexander-Arnold remained influential, completing 77% of his passes and creating chances including 12 big chances this season, ranking among the league’s elite creators. Manager Arne Slot downplayed the impact of the speculation about Alexander-Arnold’s future, suggesting that the tough matchups against United’s Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot posed more of a challenge than the transfer rumors.

However, pundits like Gary Neville felt that the Real Madrid interest affected his performance. Despite the criticism, some fans stood by him, dismissing the criticism as unfair and viewing it as “just one of those games.” Fans voiced mixed opinions on social media, with some suggesting Trent Alexander-Arnold should leave while others hoped he would stay and rediscover his form. The debate continues over whether the ongoing contract discussions have contributed to his shaky performance.