Arne Slot has revealed he ‘wasn’t completely happy’ with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performances on the training ground ahead of the Liverpool’s star’s final game for the club.
Liverpool host FA Cup winners Crystal Palace for their final game of the season on Sunday, which will be followed by the Premier League trophy celebrations.
It also has the potential to be Trent Alexander-Arnold’s final game for the Reds, after the England international announced he would leave his boyhood club on a free transfer in the summer.
While not confirmed yet, it is fully expected that the right-back will join Real Madrid, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong lined-up to replace him.
Reaction to Alexander-Arnold’s departure has proven divisive, with a loud portion of Liverpool supporters booing their own player during the recent 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Anfield.
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Slot subsequently kept the 26-year-old on the bench for Monday night’s 3-2 defeat at Brighton and the head coach claims he does not yet know whether the defender will get his Liverpool swan song on Sunday.
‘I haven’t decided on [if he plays] but this should be a day everyone is going to enjoy,’ the Dutchman said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
‘It’s been 35 years waiting for this moment as LFC fans and 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. I have a lot of faith and trust in my fans we can do this [Spurs] again.’
Slot would go on to remind reporters that like all other players ‘Trent is human’, perhaps a subtle message to fans not to jeer the departing star.
But soon after, the head coach appeared to turn on Alexander-Arnold, criticising his form on the training ground: ‘I think I said a few times, I talk to most players a lot and especially if there are circumstances why I should.
‘I speak to Trent every day and combined with winning something together, creates a different bond with him. He was in my office a lot in pre-season as well, for other reasons, now he is in my office again.
‘I said a few things in pre-season why he was in my office at the beginning. He said it himself, he is going to leave either way, so why not say.
‘I wasn’t completely happy with every single minute he was on the training ground, he could do a bit more to say it mildly and that is what we talked about.
‘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 him.
‘It is about showing that every game. It is not the 34 games we play well, we are judged on the 4 we don’t. So we spoke about that.’
While regarded as one of, if not the best offensive full-back in the world, Alexander-Arnold’s defensive game and positioning has been a frequent source of criticism.
Jamie Carragher notably blasted the player for his performance in the draw with Manchester United in January, even suggesting that the transfer links to Real were affecting his form.
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