Arne Slot acknowledged that some might attribute Trent Alexander-Arnold’s underwhelming performance in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United to speculation about his future.
The Liverpool right-back, Alexander-Arnold, heavily linked with Real Madrid throughout the week, had a night to forget at Anfield, where the Premier League leaders were held to a frustrating draw.
Alexander-Arnold, now in the final six months of his contract with his boyhood club, struggled to influence the game and was partially at fault for United’s opening goal.
While Slot, Liverpool’s manager, dismissed the idea that transfer rumours affected the Alexander-Arnold, he admitted others might see it differently.
“I think nine out of 10 people will tell you that it affected him. I’m (the) one of the 10 that tells you that I don’t think that affected him,” Slot said. “What affected him is that he had to play against Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, two starters for Portugal, great, great players.
“If these players set themselves to a game – and that is what United once in a while does – then it’s very difficult to play against them. I think that is more difficult for Trent to play against than the rumours that were there during the week.
“But that’s my opinion, and probably everybody’s going to tell you that it had to do with the rumours.”
Liverpool regained a six-point lead over second-placed Arsenal with a game in hane but lacked their usual dominance. Cody Gakpo and Mohammed Salah scored to overturn an early goal from United’s Lisandro Martinez. However, Liverpool’s control slipped late in the game, allowing Amad Diallo to equalize with 10 minutes left.
United nearly snatched victory in stoppage time, but Harry Maguire missed a clear-cut chance. Despite the dropped points, Slot described the draw as a setback for Liverpool. Slot said, “Of course it feels for us as two points dropped. I think for many people what stays in their head is what happens in the end and that was a big chance for Maguire, of course.
“But what you then might tend to forget is that two minutes before, Virgil (van Dijk) had just as big a chance to make it 3-2 for us. “In the end, it was a difficult game. It is not always easy to play against that style of football, especially if they have such good quality players.”
United, meanwhile, ended a three-game losing streak with an improved display. Captain Bruno Fernandes, expressed frustration over the team’s inconsistency, saying, “I’m pretty upset because if we show this today at Anfield against Liverpool, who are first in the league and probably the outstanding team in the Premier League this season, why can’t we do this every week?”
United Manager Ruben Amorim praised his side’s response to criticism following their loss to Newcastle. “I want to see my team play so much better but I think the most important thing here is the mentality. That is the key for everything.
“Today we were a different team, not because of the system, not because of the technical aspects or tactical aspects of the game (but because) we faced the competition in the way that we’re supposed to face every day, training and match.
“It doesn’t matter the place, the opponent. We need to face every day like that.”
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