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Trent Alexander-Arnold looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC at Anfield on January 05, 2025 (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Arne Slot has defended Trent Alexander-Arnold after he struggled in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United, insisting the Liverpool vice-captain was not affected by the ongoing speculation about his future.

The England international remains out of contract at the end of the season and was the subject of a failed approach from Real Madrid on New Year’s Eve.

Now inside the final six months of his contract, he is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs.

Up against Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, Alexander-Arnold endured a difficult afternoon at Anfield before being replaced by Conor Bradley late on.

READ MORE:What will really annoy Arne Slot about Man United draw as Liverpool face new title challengeREAD MORE:Liverpool player ratings as Trent Alexander-Arnold struggles and two shine in Man United draw

And while Slot concedes that onlookers with theorise that his below-par performance was related to the speculation about his future, the Liverpool head coach insists otherwise.

“I don’t believe in those things but I think it’s nine out of 10 people will tell you it affected him,” he admitted.

“But I am one of the 10 that tells you that I don’t think that affected him.

“What affected him is that he had to play Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot which are two starters for Portugal.

We have a fantastic player here in Diogo Jota, and he’s not even playing for Portugal - mostly he’s not playing - so that tells you how much quality United has.

“And if these players set themselves to a game, and that is what United do once in a while, then it’s very difficult to play against them.

“No, it wasn’t that he had to play on his own against those two because Ryan (Gravenberch) was nine out of 10 times close to that situation.

But, he was many times faced in a 1v1 situation against those players.

“I always tell you how difficult it is for the other team to be in a 1v1 situation against Mo Salah, or against Cody Gakpo, Lucho Diaz and all the other ones we have.

And these players also have special qualities.

“I think that is more important for Trent to play against Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot than it is the rumours that were there in the week.

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“That’s my opinion, probably everybody is going to tell you it had to do with the rumours but my opinion is different.

“But it was clear that Trent had some difficult moments, as we as a team had.
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