Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, has affirmed that he has no reservations about fielding right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold this season, even after the negative reactions following news of his impending departure.
Alexander-Arnold, who is set to leave on a free transfer and is likely to join Real Madrid, faced boos from some Liverpool supporters multiple times during Sunday’s 2-2 match against Arsenal. This occurred when his name was announced before the game and when he entered as a substitute in the second half.
Slot has previously defended Alexander-Arnold against such criticism, a view also held by left-back Andy Robertson. The Liverpool manager has reiterated his commitment to using the England international in the team’s remaining matches this season.
“The thing I consider is I want to win a game of football, and if we think we can win with Trent, I owe it to his teammates and to the fans, because they hired me to win as many games of football as possible,” Slot said. “And if I think there’s a better chance of winning with Trent, then I will [pick him].
“If I think it’s a distraction, or whatever can happen for us not to play a good game of football, then I might, might, might make another decision. But I think Trent showed today why I brought him in because he was very close with a few fantastic crosses for us to win the game.”
Reds legend Jamie Carragher, who admitted his “disappointment” towards Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave in March, urged those booing the right-back to rethink their actions before the end of the season.
“When you’re in a crowd of 60,000, there’s no doubt there’s a lot of unhappy people at Liverpool about the situation,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “And I’ve said that’s understandable.
“But for me, I said it before and said the same away at Leicester, where there were a few boos in the away section, I don’t believe any player putting on that red shirt and going out there to get them three points or winning titles, who goes on to win trophies, should be being booed.
“I understand, there’s a lot of ill-feeling. And some people outside of Liverpool won’t be able to understand that. I do. [But] booing one of your own players while they’re playing is not for me.”
