“A new contract? What affected Trent is that he played against the stars of the Portugal team”

Liverpool wasn’t hurt too much by the surprising 2:2 home draw against Manchester United last night (Sunday). The gap from Arsenal at the top remains at six points, but the team’s fans and commentators found a scapegoat and did not spare Trent Alexander Arnold, who received very harsh criticism due to his poor ability.

“We talk about how brilliant Trent is in attack, but Trent’s defense today, God, it’s like schoolboy stuff,” Roy Keane said on Sky Sports.

However, Trent’s coach Arana Slott came to his defense when asked if the defender was influenced by the talks about his contract, which should expire at the end of the season: “I don’t believe in such things.”

“I think nine out of ten people will tell you that it affected him, but I’m one out of ten who will tell you that I don’t think it affected him,” Arne Sloot said.

“What affected him was that he had to play against Bruno Fernandez and Diego Dalot, two starting players in the Portugal national team, excellent players.”

“We have a fantastic player like Diego Jota here, and he doesn’t even play for the Portugal national team. That tells you how much quality Manchester United has. Probably everyone will say it’s related to rumors, but in my opinion it’s something else.”

Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah scored for Liverpool, who remain top of the table with 46 points, six more than second-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand.

“He’s going to Tranmere Rovers after this” ?

Roy Keane’s honest opinion on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defending. pic.twitter.com/vE02Qmnqik

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025

The one who received the most criticism in Liverpool was Trent Alexander-Arnold, who played a bad defensive game and already at half-time he was intercepted by Roy Keane who said: “Are they talking about him going to Real Madrid? He’s going to Tranmere Rovers after a game like this.”

Liverpool stopper and captain Virgil van Dijk was candid, saying after the game: “It could have been a lot worse if we’re being completely honest with ourselves. They had a big chance at the end which could have made it a lot worse than it is now. I’m definitely disappointed to lose points At home, but it is what it is and we have to move on and we will.”

When asked if Liverpool did not properly evaluate Manchester United: “It’s all talk of the media. Talk of the media only. It has nothing to do with us. We prepared for a very difficult game as we saw today. We didn’t think anything like that.”