‘Sympathy’: Jamie Carragher says he feels sorry for Liverpool player after criticism

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Jamie Carragher has stated that he has ‘sympathy’ for Trent Alexander-Arnold after Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.

The Liverpool right-back watched on in Paris as Vinicius Junior ghosted behind him to score the only goal of the game that handed Madrid their 14th European crown.

Alan Shearer was one of the pundits who was critical of the England man’s defending at the far post, as well as former Manchester City defender, Micah Richards. 

Before the game, there was a lot of talk about how Alexander-Arnold would cope with Real Madrid’s in-form flyer from Brazil.

Well, despite Alexander-Arnold having shots fired at him for that crucial moment, one man who felt he was in a ‘very difficult’ situation was Carragher, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (28/05/22 at 11:20 pm).

“I have got a little bit of sympathy with him,” said Carragher. “I think it’s a really difficult one.

“I understand what you are saying about the body position. But it’s very difficult when that ball flashes across there.

“I actually think Liverpool handled Vinicius throughout the game really well – he’s got to be looking at the ball, but when that ball flashes across, then I am not sure he can actually get there.

“Liverpool play offside a lot. So, when he does check, it’s because he doesn’t want to go behind his defenders and play someone onside. But these are the fine margins that decide the biggest games.”

TRENT IS NOT THE ONLY ONE AT FAULT

In truth, the questions should also be pointed elsewhere and that’s the build-up to the goal.

From Madrid turning over possession so quickly to allowing Federico Valverde to burst into the box and provide that killer cross.

Alexander-Arnold’s teammates didn’t help his cause by not defending their own penalty box, but he will still be kicking himself for not dealing with the situation.

Nonetheless, it’s pretty remarkable that, at the age of 23, Trent has been in three European Cup finals, winning one and losing the other two.