Liverpool manager Arne Slot waxed lyrical about Trent Alexander-Arnold after his stunning goal helped defeat Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third round.
Alexander-Arnold, out of contract in the summer and one of Actual Madrid’s top transfer targets, was heavily criticized for his performance in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United, with many feeling that speculation over his future had affected his mood.
But Alexander-Arnold had no such worries against League Two Accrington, who fought valiantly at Anfield before the Premier League leaders’ quality shone through.
Diogo Jota opened the scoring for Liverpool after a quick breakaway and the game was practically secured with a tremendous long-range goal from Alexander-Arnold moments before the break.
“I could talk for hours about that goal,” Slot said of Alexander-Arnold’s goal. “The biggest compliment Trent could receive was everyone’s reaction. (on Saturday) After the Manchester United game.
“Every player in the world, perhaps except a few, has a bad game and it is completely average. But the moment Trent has one, everyone has an opinion about it.
“Maybe it’s because of the contract situation. If it hadn’t been like that, I don’t know if people would have reacted the same way. “A lot of them were pretty tough on him.”
“I think it was good for Trent to play in our own stadium and feel the welcome of the fans again,” Slot added. “It was special and it can only help him and us.
“If you want to do special things this season, you can do it together, not only with the players, the coach, but definitely with the fans.”
Real Madrid have already seen an approach for Alexander-Arnold rejected by Liverpool, and the Merseyside club are still hopeful of their academy graduate signing a new long-term contract.
However, Alexander-Arnold has expressed his desire to win the Ballon d’Or, and the chances of winning that particular award tend to increase by playing for a more illustrious club like Madrid, which has 15 European Cup and League crowns. of Champions to his name in comparison. to Liverpool’s six.
