Keane and Carragher hit out at Trent Alexander-Arnold's defending
‘It’s like he’s never played the position before’: Roy Keane hits out at Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defending for Liverpool after Arsenal draw… while Jamie Carragher is unsure if he will ever improve at the back
- Liverpool came from two goals down to draw with Arsenal in a captivating game
- Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher were not impressed by Trent Alexander-Arnold
- They questioned his role in defence, as the Reds looked shaky early on at Anfield
Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher have questioned Trent Alexander-Arnold defensively in the wake of Liverpool’s captivating 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.
The 24-year-old played a part at both ends of the action during the chaotic tie, making the crucial delivery to the back post in the 87th minute for Roberto Firmino to head home the equaliser for the Reds.
However, he was also part of a defensive strategy which made Liverpool look very poor in the opening 35 minutes of the match, as they went two goals behind, before staging a comeback that seemed unlikely based on the opening exchanges.
Keane, the former Manchester United man, expressed his feelings on England international Alexander-Arnold post-match to Sky Sports.
The 51-year-old ex-midfielder said: ‘It’s surprising with Trent. It’s like he’s never played the position before.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive play for Liverpool has been questioned by some pundits
Roy Keane said that Alexander-Arnold was an ‘experienced player’ who looked out of place
‘He’s an experienced player, played hundreds of games, won some big prizes, he’s an international player.
‘People moving quickly around him. It’s like he’s never seen it before. He must face that every day in training, he faces it every time he plays a top-level football match.
‘He seems surprised every time someone has good movement against him. He’s not learnt at all over the past few years.
‘That’s the bit that’s surprises me, he’s not improved at all defensively.’
This was not even a case of Manchester United slating Liverpool, with former Reds defender Carragher agreeing with Keane after his comments – and saying that an in-form Liverpool side would see Alexander-Arnold being exposed less often in defence.
Carragher said: ‘It’s whether he will ever improve defensively. I’m not quite sure he will, if I’m being honest.
‘He’s an experienced player. I think it comes back to, if Liverpool get back to their best, we’ll see him more on the front foot with the ball, and we’ll see him less defending. That’s the position we’re in.’
The 45-year-old compared it to the situation that Oleksandr Zinchenko faces at Arsenal. His performance today, like it has been across the season, was widely praised, until he was nutmegged by Alexander-Arnold on Liverpool’s way to their late equaliser.
Jamie Carragher asked if the 24-year-old Liverpool defender would ever improve at the back
Carragher compared the situation to Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko when he goes forward
On Zinchenko, Carragher said: ‘I think it’s similar. The composure he showed at times was brilliant on the ball, but he lets them down defensively. If Arsenal go back to fighting for the top four, that will expose a lot.’
The Ukrainian was taken off the field immediately after the goal and replaced by Kieran Tierney. Carragher said that the late switch came about because Zinchenko is ‘not 100% trusted defensively.’
Arsenal have a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League, although Manchester City have a game in hand. The Gunners face a trip to West Ham next weekend.
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have eight days to prepare for their next match, when they travel across the north of England to visit Leeds United.
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