'Real Madrid? More like Tranmere' - has future talk 'affected' Trent?

Trent Alexander-Arnold has seldom been retired of the headlines.

If it's not for Real Madrid's ongoing involvement successful the Liverpool full-back amid an uncertain future, it's for his originative brilliance - oregon his perceived antiaircraft deficiencies.

On Sunday, it was undoubtedly the latter.

The 26-year-old had an day to hide arsenic leaders Liverpool were fortunate to flight Anfield with a 2-2 gully against 14th-placed Manchester United.

After being fixed a torrid day by Diogo Dalot and replaced by Conor Bradley successful the 86th minute, helium was heavy criticised connected societal media and by respective pundits.

Former United skipper Roy Keane told Sky Sports: "There's speech astir him going to Real Madrid, the mode he's defending he's going to Tranmere Rovers aft this. He's got to bash better.

"We speech astir however superb Trent is going forward, but Trent's defending today; my goodness it's similar schoolboy stuff."

League Two broadside Tranmere were speedy to connection a witty effect to Keane's jibe connected societal media, posting a representation of their full-back Cameron Norman connected X nether the message: "Trent to Tranmere Roy? Nah, we're alright thanks."

Alexander-Arnold has remained tight-lipped connected his Liverpool future, with his declaration coming to an extremity this summer, and it has been suggested the speculation whitethorn person "unnerved" him.

Reports person claimed Spanish giants Real Madrid privation to motion him successful January - oregon connected a escaped transportation astatine the extremity of the play - portion the Reds person made accrued efforts to support him connected improved terms.

Given some United goals and the bulk of the visitors' menace came down his side, it was not hard to recognize wherefore Alexander-Arnold's show was questioned.

With Bruno Fernandes drifting near and the gait of Dalot connected that broadside too, it was a wide program to effort to wounded Liverpool down their right.

More than fractional of United's attacks - 54% to beryllium precise – went connected that broadside truthful helium was dribbled past doubly which, successful itself, is not a immense indictment connected Alexander-Arnold's performance.

Opta besides confirmed helium recorded nary errors starring to a shot, fto unsocial a goal.

The large contented for Alexander-Arnold was that helium mislaid each 5 of his duels successful the lucifer and, arsenic such, failed to halt United's forays into Liverpool territory erstwhile helium had the chance.

Moreover, portion helium was lone dribbled past twice, the information Dalot was fixed the abstraction to get balls into the container without beating Alexander-Arnold whitethorn besides interest brag Arne Slot.

On the ball, it was overmuch of what you would expect from the talented, attack-minded right-back. He completed 76.67% of his 60 passes – which was beauteous overmuch bang connected with his mean for the play and created a chance.

That took him to 37 for the campaign, with Ipswich left-back Leif Davis the lone defender up of him successful that category.

Alexander-Arnold was salient successful the aboriginal stages of the lucifer astatine Anfield, coming successful disconnected the touchline to find abstraction earlier looking to prime retired a telling pass.

Only Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and Mohamed Salah tin amended his 12 large chances created successful the Premier League this season, though helium did not adhd to his tally successful this game.

Alexander-Arnold remains among the elite creators successful European shot and portion a hard time successful specified a high-profile lucifer brought his defending nether scrutiny again, it was not truthful agelong agone that his betterment successful that country - since Slot took complaint - was lauded.

"We are talking astir a subordinate that won the Champions League and the league rubric truthful it's wide to maine that helium has been a bully defender each his life," Slot said earlier successful the season.

"I think, with him, it is not astir if helium is susceptible of doing things, it's much tin his attraction complaint perpetually beryllium successful 100% focus? So this is what we speech astir a lot."

This wasn't the archetypal clip Alexander-Arnold has been criticised for his defending.

Throughout his incredibly palmy vocation - successful which helium has helped Liverpool triumph each large trophy - his antiaircraft qualities person been continually brought up arsenic a imaginable weakness.

And with the declaration concern and anticipation of losing 'one of their own' this period oregon successful the summer, manager Arne Slot was asked if the speculation had affected Alexander-Arnold.

"I deliberation 9 retired of 10 radical volition archer you that it affected him. I'm [the] 1 of the 10 that tells you that I don't deliberation that affected him," said the Dutchman.

"What affected him is that helium had to play against Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, 2 starters for Portugal, great, large players.

"I deliberation that is much hard for Trent to play against than the rumours that were determination during the week."

Ex-Manchester United and England full-back Gary Neville was little convinced, though.

"The expected bid from Real Madrid is atrocious timing for him," helium said. "I deliberation that volition person unnerved him - Real Madrid are specified a almighty club.

"There are 3 reasons for that performance. He has played similar this before, helium conscionable had a atrocious game, oregon his caput was affected by each the talk.

"It wasn't his defending, which we cognize helium does sometimes, I thought his passing and guardant play was the worst I've seen."

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said the lucifer could not person gone worse for Alexander-Arnold, portion Keane believed helium should person been substituted earlier.

But different ex-Liverpool striker, Daniel Sturridge, enactment the show down to "just 1 of those games", portion Premier League victor Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Where has this pile-on for Trent travel from? Trent has been superb successful a Liverpool jersey and each of a sudden, you privation him retired the door. Blimey."

Paul: After Trent's show today, Real tin person him. His understudy is simply a amended all-round subordinate and Liverpool volition prevention money.

Mark: Trent was an implicit disgrace successful a Liverpool shirt. He was dilatory with nary consciousness of anyone astir him and a full liability each match. He should motion disconnected this past play but contiguous was the worst show I person seen by Liverpool subordinate successful a agelong time. He should person been substituted by astir 30 minutes. Totally not acceptable.

Ian: Can I personally thrust Trent successful my campervan to Madrid? His shocking show contiguous tells maine that helium has already decided wherever is aboriginal is. Let's ace on.

James: Trent, either enactment oregon go. Just fto america cognize which it is truthful that everyone tin determination on. Stay and they whitethorn physique you a statue, spell and hazard being different Michael Owen.

Steven: Trent was wholly disconnected the gait today, but I'm not saying helium wants to leave. He looks unsettled and surely not his mean self. Whatever helium decides is fine, arsenic we would emotion him to enactment if that's what helium wants and we get the aged Trent back, but if helium wants to permission past helium needs to beryllium the reserve right-back now.

Graham: I cognize Trent's caput wasn't successful the close place, but surely the nine are liable for letting the declaration talks spell connected for truthful long.