Liverpool manager Arne Slot refused to blame Trent Alexander-Arnold for his side’s recent goalscoring streak.
The creative right-back has often had his defensive acumen questioned throughout his career, and endured a particularly difficult outing in Liverpool draw 2-2 with Manchester United last Sunday. This was Alexander-Arnold’s first appearance since Real Madrid they presented their opening bid 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 form is not Alexander-Arnold’s burden. The Reds conceded five goals in the first 12 games of the season (an average of 0.4 per game) but have conceded 20 goals in the following 17 games (1.2 per game).
“I see a certain pattern in the goals we concede, but I don’t see the pattern if it’s Trent,” Slot told the assembled media earlier. Liverpool’s FA Cup tie with Accrington Stanley on Saturday – Not at all.
“Trent has had a difficult game for us and maybe some that were good or good. Mainly, he has played great games when he has played with us this season,” said the Dutch coach.
“I know there’s a lot of attention on him at the moment, but I’d also like to highlight how he did when he came on in the last half hour (against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday) and how our fans reacted with him, that’s what I liked the most during this game.”
Alexander-Arnold had fallen to the bench for LiverpoolWednesday evening’s trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in place of Conor Bradley. The international of England appeared for the final half hour of the Carabao Cup semi-final and fired a fearsome volley past debutant goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky that Radu Dragusin had to desperately claw off the goal line.
Liverpool have rejected initial offers from Real Madrid and appear determined to keep Alexander-Arnold at Anfield at least until the end of the season, which is when his contract expires.
