Liverpool is preparing to make a decision regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold, with a replacement ready in case he is unavailable.
Trent Alexander-Arnold remains without a contract extension at the end of the season, with increasing attention on his future at Liverpool. Some fans are starting to lose patience with his ongoing contract situation, with one particularly vocal supporter urging him to leave immediately. Many around the Anfield press box had been calling for his substitution long before he was eventually replaced in the 86th minute. Liverpool legends Jamie Carragher and John Aldridge were both critical, with Carragher suggesting he should have been taken off after Manchester United’s first goal due to his poor performance, and Aldridge wanting him substituted at halftime.
Arne Slot, however, dismissed suggestions that Alexander-Arnold’s struggles were related to speculation about his future, particularly after Real Madrid’s interest. Only Alexander-Arnold himself knows how much the rumors have affected him, though his post-goal celebration against West Ham suggested some awareness of the situation. Regardless, the full-back had a rough outing in one of England’s biggest games, and the only consolation for Liverpool was that their 2-2 draw did not affect their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Slot had previously raised eyebrows by not ruling out a potential January move for Alexander-Arnold, following Real Madrid’s approach, but Liverpool is not interested in losing him mid-season, regardless of the outcome of his contract talks. The club may soon get a glimpse of life without him, with Liverpool facing two domestic cup matches before their next Premier League fixture, starting with a League Cup semi-final against Tottenham and then an FA Cup tie against Accrington Stanley.
Even if Alexander-Arnold had been the standout player against Manchester United, it wouldn’t have been surprising for Slot to rest him for one of the upcoming games. However, with Conor Bradley now back from injury, his return offers an opportunity for Slot to either take Alexander-Arnold out of the firing line or challenge him to bounce back.
Bradley’s cameo against United saw him win a tackle within 60 seconds of his return, contrasting with Alexander-Arnold’s performance, where he didn’t win a single tackle. Bradley will likely start in at least one of Liverpool’s next two matches, with the possibility of back-to-back starts being a bit too much after his long layoff. This provides Bradley a chance to make a case for a more prominent role, especially with the heightened scrutiny surrounding Alexander-Arnold.
Bradley, known for his more traditional attacking full-back style, contrasts with Alexander-Arnold’s deeper playmaking role. While Bradley offers strong 1v1 defending, he lacks the passing range of his counterpart. Despite Alexander-Arnold’s weaknesses being frequently scrutinized, his strengths have contributed to more Liverpool victories than failures. After eight seasons and numerous titles, it will be fascinating to see whether Liverpool opts for a more conventional right-back in the future, particularly if Alexander-Arnold moves on.
Should Alexander-Arnold be swayed by Real Madrid’s interest, Liverpool may face a significant change in their defensive setup, with Bradley potentially stepping in to fill the void. Only time will reveal whether this shift marks a true new direction for the club or if Alexander-Arnold’s critics will get the change
they seek.
