By 90min | Created at 2025-01-11 11:07:15 | Updated at 2025-01-11 13:55:03
2 hours ago
Liverpool manager Arne Slot refused to blame Trent Alexander-Arnold for the recent flurry of goals his side have conceded.
The creative right-back has often had his defensive acumen questioned throughout his career, and endured a particularly difficult outing in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Manchester United last Sunday. That was Alexander-Arnold's first appearance since Real Madrid submitted their opening offer to buy the academy graduate this month.
Slot was quick to defend his player on that occasion, and doubled down on his insistence that Liverpool's porous run of form is not Alexander-Arnold's burden to carry. The Reds conceded five goals across the first 12 matches of the season (an average of 0.4 per game), but have shipped 20 over the subsequent 17 fixtures (1.2 per game).
"I do see a certain pattern in the goals we concede but I don't see the pattern if it is about Trent," Slot told the assembled media before Liverpool's FA Cup tie with Accrington Stanley on Saturday. "Not at all."
Trent Alexander-Arnold has not been at his best in the first few days of 2025 / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages
"Trent has had one difficult game for us and maybe a few that were OK to good. Mainly, he has had great games when he played for us this season," the Dutch coach pointed out.
"I know there is a lot of focus on him at the moment but I would also like to highlight the focus on how well he did when he came on in the last half hour [against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday] and how our fans reacted to him. That is what pleased me even more during that game."
Alexander-Arnold had dropped to the bench for Liverpool's trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday evening in place of Conor Bradley. The England international was introduced for the final half-hour of the Carabao Cup semi-final and struck a fearsome volley beyond debutant goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky which Radu Dragusin had to desperately clear off the goal line.
Liverpool have rebuffed Real Madrid's initial offers and appear intent on keeping Alexander-Arnold at Anfield until at least the end of the season - which is when his contract is due to expire.
