close
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has joked that Trent Alexander-Arnold not playing will would be a gift to reported incoming Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso. Slot said that Alexander-Arnold is a better defender than most people give him credit for.
Ahead of the last game of the season on Sunday (May 25) against Crystal Palace, Slot said that he hasn't decided if Alexander-Arnold will start his final match for Liverpool. He added that it's going to be an emotional day for fans and players, as they will be lifting the Premier League trophy (via Lewis Steele):
"He's going to leave anyway so why not, it might be the first gift I can give Xabi Alonso. … I wasn't completely happy with every single minute he was on training ground. In my opinion there were certain moments he could do more, to put it mildly. I told him he's a much better defender than people think, but you don't show it all the time."
Slot added (as per LiverpoolECHO):
"I haven't decided on (if he plays), but this should be a day everyone is going to enjoy. 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."
Real Madrid are reportedly hoping to have Trent Alexander-Arnold in their squad for the FIFA Club World Cup next month.
Trent Alexander-Arnold set for Real Madrid move after Liverpool exit
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been linked with Real Madrid for the last year. The right-back is set for a move to Santiago Bernabeu. The Englishman is yet to confirm his decision but has announced his exit from Anfield.
The Englishman has booed by Liverpool fans when he last played at Anfield. The right-back came on in the second half of the 2-2 draw with Arsenal earlier this month.
Real Madrid are working on a deal with Liverpool to secure the defender a month before his contract at Anfield expires. They made a move in the January window, but the Reds were reluctant to let Alexander-Arnold leave.
Why did you not like this content?
Cancel Submit
Was this article helpful?
like selected
avatar selected
Thank You for feedback
About the author
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,
Sripad is a veteran Sportskeeda football journalist who has been with the company for around 10 years. His tryst with writing happened in class XI when he started penning blogs, and his foray into football was during the early 2000s, watching matches with his cousins.
Sripad has been a Chelsea fan through and through since the age of 9 and can watch their 2012 Champions League triumph on repeat. The undisputed ‘GOAT’ according to him is Lionel Messi and his favorite managers are Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson. Apart from popular European leagues, he also likes to follow other leagues like the MLS, Saudi Pro League, Eredivisie, and Liga MX.
Sripad believes in only using the right sources for his articles, and is an expert in understanding how to get the right quotes for each news to provide proper background information. His exploits have led him to become a popular figure in European Football and interviewing Premier League legends such as Alan Shearer, Shay Given, Paul Dickov, and John Barnes. His articles have been much revered amongst the football fraternity and have been shared by the likes of John Terry, Gary Lineker, and Declan Rice.
If given a chance to change a football rule, Sripad wants VAR to be fully automated and offside rules to be less stringent. When not working, he likes to watch past Formula 1 races and play FIFA.
Know More
Quick Links
More from Sportskeeda
Edited by Bhargav