Liverpool manager Arne Slot has revealed why he is unhappy with Trent Alexander-Arnold and why he is about to give incoming Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso a “gift”.
Alexander-Arnold controversially announced that he will leave Liverpool as a free agent in the summer, with a switch to Los Blancos very much on the cards.
It is a decision that has enraged much of the Anfield club’s supporters and Slot has now admitted that he’s not been entirely happy with the right-back himself.
“He’s going to leave anyway so why not leave him out? It might be the first gift I can give Xabi Alonso…” he said, implying that his criticism might spur Trent to work harder for the new Real Madrid boss.
“I wasn’t completely happy with every single minute he was on training ground.
“In my opinion, there were certain moments he could do more, to put it mildly.
“I said to him: ‘You are a much better defender than everyone tells you and you don’t show it all the time. This is a part of your game you need to improve but if you are at it and concentrated, not a lot can get around you. It is about showing that every game. It is not the 34 games we play well; we are judged on the four we don’t.’”
Will Trent play against Crystal Palace?
Slot says he has not decided if Alexander-Arnold will get a farewell appearance against Crystal Palace on Sunday in what is the final Premier League game of the season.
“I haven’t decided if he will play, but it should be a day everyone will enjoy,” the Liverpool boss said.
“We set the example against Spurs. I’ve not seen a celebration done in a nicer way. One of the two things that made me emotional was when we arrived and the fans were singing and since then, multiple people told me they went to Anfield for so long and they never felt a day more special.
“I am hoping we can add another day to it, the fans, the staff, the players – and one of those is Trent – he deserves to be there as well, he has been a part of this season and some incredible years.”
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