Jamie Carragher has slammed Trent Alexander-Arnold for his defending during Liverpool’s Champions League exit to Real Madrid on Wednesday night, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (15/03/23 at 10:25 pm).
The Anfield legend stated that Alexander-Arnold ‘needs’ help’ as he was unhappy at the right-back for ‘walking’ when the only goal of the game was scored by Karim Benzema.
Whilst fans were treated, well perhaps if you’re not Liverpool, to a 5-2 classic at Anfield during the first leg, there was no such comeback during the second and, in the end, it petered out to a 6-2 aggregate win for the current European Cup holders.
But despite nothing riding on the game in the end. The defending, or lack fit, from Alexander-Arnold, was another concern.
The £180k-a-week star (Spotrac) has been the subject of criticism before in that area of the pitch and he was once again called out for that side of the game.
Carragher highlighted what the issues were with the 24-year-old and what course of actions Jurgen Klopp might have to take.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold vs Vinicius Jr, the ball is in the centre of the pitch in a dangerous position and he’s not watching the ball,” said Carragher.
“Then the ball gets played. Watch the reaction from him, Vinicius Jr. He (TAA) is just walking. The lack of intensity from Trent. I wouldn’t even say ‘at times’. I would say ‘a lot of times’ is very, very worrying. Not just for Liverpool as a team, but for him.
“That continues with him, what’s happened this season and the amount of times he has been lacking defensively. The problem they have got is that they haven’t had really competition for Trent Alexander-Arnold and one of the reasons why is because he’s been so good.
“Liverpool are at a point where they have to go and buy a right-back. Now, that’s Jurgen Klopp’s decision as to how good that right-back is and how much he costs. But that lad needs serious competition because he has been playing now for five years at the top level, week in and week out, with no rest and he has won everything. Done fantastic. Won more than I could ever dream of and I am so proud of him. A local lad coming through. But he needs help.”
TRENT UNDER PRESSURE
If Trent is feeling the heat now, well, it’s going to go up a few notches next season.
His past successes can get him out of a hole now, but if this continues next season, then he will find that his own fans will call for him to be dropped.
With a lot of talk around Liverpool’s midfield, it will be interesting to see just how much investment is made at right-back because that might not be Klopp’s focus.
Plus, a lot of this depends on how much money there is to spend and if the club can even afford to bring in competition for Alexander-Arnold.
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