Slot Defends Alexander-Arnold Amid Criticism Over Goals Conceded
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has dismissed suggestions that right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is to blame for the goals his side has been conceding, despite patterns emerging in their defensive struggles.
Alexander-Arnold faced criticism after Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Sunday. United's first goal, scored by Lisandro Martinez, came from an attack down Liverpool's right flank, while their second saw Amad Diallo convert a cross from the same side.
Statistics from Opta reveal that 44% of opponent touches in Liverpool's defensive third occur on their right-hand side, the highest ratio in the Premier League. Additionally, 35.7% of opposition chances come from Liverpool's right, compared to 38.1% from the middle and 26.2% from the left.
"I do see a certain pattern in the goals we concede, but I don't see that pattern pointing to Trent. Not at all," said Slot. "Trent has had one difficult game for us [against Manchester United], maybe a few that were OK to good, but mainly, he has had great games this season."
Alexander-Arnold, whose contract expires in the summer amid links to Real Madrid, made an impact as a substitute in Liverpool’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg loss to Tottenham, including a shot cleared off the line.
"I know there’s a lot of focus on him at the moment, but I’d also like to highlight how well he performed in the last half hour against Tottenham and how our fans reacted to him. That pleased me even more during the game," Slot added.
Looking ahead, Liverpool will host League Two side Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third round on Saturday. Slot is expected to rotate his squad but remains wary of the challenge.
"Every team that plays against us sees it as a special occasion, especially lower-league teams," said Slot. "For them, it will feel like a Champions League final, and we have to be ready for that. It’s up to us to play with the same intensity and focus."
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