ROY KEANE suggested Trent Alexander-Arnold should be moving to Tranmere rather than Real Madrid after criticising the Liverpool player’s “schoolboy defending”.
Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a switch to the Spanish giants during the transfer window, but Keane was distinctly unimpressed with his performance in the first half of Sunday’s game against Manchester United.
Analysing the chances that Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund failed to convert at Anfield during half-time, Keane said on Sky Sports: “It’s too easy.
“Them [sic] chances for United [come from] a couple of balls over the top. We talk about how brilliant Trent is going forward, but Trent’s defending today; my goodness it’s like schoolboy stuff.
“There’s talk about him going to Real Madrid, the way he’s defending he’s going to Tranmere Rovers after this. He’s got to do better.”
League Two side Tranmere were quick to respond to Keane’s jibe on social media, posting a picture of their player Cameron Norman on X under the message: “Trent to Tranmere Roy? Nah, we’re alright thanks.”
Alexander-Arnold was eventually substituted in the closing stages of a thrilling 2-2 draw and Gary Neville questioned whether what he called an “insulting” bid from Real Madrid had played its part.
“I think the bid from Real Madrid is bad timing for him,” Neville said after the game on Sky Sports.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, whether he’s going to leave Liverpool and go to Real Madrid or whether he’s not, but if you’ve got that going into a big game, you’re a local lad as well, that won’t be easy, the distractions of having all that noise.
“Real Madrid are a hell of an animal. I thought it was insulting, to be fair, from Real Madrid. They behave like that sometimes, they think they can get what they want.
“Liverpool are a football club of immense stature. They’re never going to sell Trent Alexander-Arnold for 20 million quid in January so you’re taking the mickey a little bit.
“I think that will have probably unnerved him this week.”
Speaking before the game, former Manchester United captain Keane had been concerned about how his former club would perform against the Premier League leaders.
“I don’t see the evidence of thinking Man Utd could turn up here and do a good job because recently they’ve been very poor defensively,” Keane said.
“They don’t look like a team, they look weak, they look small; every time the ball goes in the area they look like they’re going to concede.
“I feel probably more worried than I ever have for this United team. I think it’s one of the worst-looking United teams I’ve seen in a long, long time.”
Meanwhile, Arne Slot conceded people will think Alexander-Arnold’s performance was affected by rumours surrounding his future in title-chasing Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United.
The Liverpool right-back, having been heavily linked with Real Madrid this week, had a game to forget as United frustrated the Premier League leaders with a battling display at Anfield on Sunday.
Alexander-Arnold, now in the final six months of his contract at his boyhood club, struggled to impose himself and was at fault for the visitors’ first goal.
Reds manager Slot does not believe the speculation had a big impact, but accepts other people will view the matter differently.
The Dutchman said: “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.
“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, who restored a six-point lead over second-placed Arsenal with a game in hand, fought back to lead with a Cody Gakpo strike and Mohamed Salah penalty after Martinez fired United ahead.
Yet they lacked their usual control and United, showing a spirit they have conspicuously lacked of late, restored parity 10 minutes from time through Amad Diallo.
Things might even have got worse for Liverpool as Harry Maguire spurned a gilt-edged stoppage time chance to snatch victory for United.
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’s performance arrested their run of three successive defeats and captain Bruno Fernandes voiced his frustration the side could not produce such intensity consistently.
The Portuguese told Sky Sports: “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?”
Manager Ruben Amorim was pleased with the response of his players after strong criticism following Monday’s loss to Newcastle.
He said: “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.”
If he goes so be it,Bradley has great potential,just get vvd and Salah sorted.
@Deano74: and the prize for the blatantly obvious goes to Dean well done son.
@paulie: good man Paulie, nice bit of ignorance there. You must be very proud of yourself
@Michael Mullins: where’s the ignorance mickie.
@paulie: in your useless, rude comment back to Deano. Go away and sign into one of your other accounts, state of you.
@Michael Mullins: Thanks Micheal,don’t lower yourself to his level, better just to ignore him.
@Deano74: I know yeah, I usually do. Banter and slagging etc is one thing but being downright rude has no place on the app
@Michael Mullins: And I have to laugh,he talks about awards for blatantly obvious and he posts utd are a dreadful outfit,he obviously not the brightest is Paulie.
@Deano74: take 10 million when you can
Don’t watch liverpool very often but when I do Arnold always seems to be dodgy enough. Fair play to him for getting a move to real madrid!
@Brian Dunne: he does enough defensively most times. Not among that top 100 defenders, but that’s not why he plays. Not sure who is a better passer off the ball right now.
@Graham: his primary roll is defending and he’s simply hopeless at it.
@Brian Dunne: as a pool fan I’d be sad to see him go but I wouldn’t be throwing the kitchen sink at him either. He spoke before of being pool captain, I think at this stage he needs to state what he wants because he will tarnish his rep otherwise. Also he was badly caught out for the winner in the champions league final too and his performance today was unbelievably lethargic, almost arrogant in his lack of aggression when defending.
@paulie: Would you have him at the club you support?
@colin coady: United. That’s his team. Cannot you not tell that by the fact he shows up here today? He was assumed lost in the ocean or caves….
@Paul Mallon: agree with you. He just doesn’t smell danger and is constantly caught the wrong side of the ball. Yes he’s great on the ball but Robertson on the far side has racked up the assists while still being a good defender. Bradley reminds me a lot more of Robertson
@Brian Dunne: brian how bad we are and god knows we have been shocking but I tell ya as a defender I’d rather have dalot than trent and that’s saying something as he’s poor too..definitely Liverpool weak link keep him there for sure let every opposing team expoilt that side oh and well done r.madrid unsettling him he thinks he’s better what he is while he wouldnt lace like Denis irwins boots.
@Michael Mullins: need an injury free period for Bradley to get a good run in the team.
@Paully kells: the game has changed though compared to 20-30 years ago. Success now is built on wing backs attacking. Dalot, while defensively better, has done little to nothing in support of attack, always has to cut onto his stronger foot, losing momentum every time.
@Paully kells: for playing full-back, the position he is meant to be playing, you are absolutely correct, he wouldn’t lace Irwin’s boots, and that’s from a Liverpool fan.
@Graham: dalot is absolutely brutal at back post but still could do better job than taa…I wouldn’t be suprised seen r.madrid bidding for him instead..yeah agree does little or nothing in support attack for sure.
@Michael Mullins: and that’s not a cut mick either. Think he’s over hyped good player no doubt and what a ball he put in last game but some folk have think he should be up there balon dor??a very poor utd side showed him up today.
@colin coady: as a winger yes as a defender no as he’s absolutely hopeless at it colly.
@Graham: we’ve had this kavvie and it’s boring Manchester United are a dreadful outfit.
@colin coady: who real man utd Madrid.
@Graham: haha well he did plenty last night attacking Trent’s channel repeatedly
@Brian Dunne: he would be good in back 5
Ye should live blog the Sky Sports coverage rather than the game itself.
You know you’re screwed when united are targeting you as a weak link. They clearly identified Trent as the weak link in defence. Almost every attack was down his channel