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Trent Alexander-Arnold's shaky performance against Manchester United was affected by suggestions of a recent bid from Real Madrid, says Jamie Carragher.

The Liverpool right-back, having been heavily linked with Real this week, had a game to forget as United frustrated the Premier League leaders with a battling 2-2 display at Anfield on Super Sunday.

Alexander-Arnold, now in the final six months of his contract at his boyhood club, struggled to impose himself and was at fault for the visitors' first goal.

"I thought he was really poor," said Carragher.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said Alexander-Arnold’s performance against Manchester United wasn’t due to Real Madrid links.

"I don't know what's going to happen, whether he's going to leave Liverpool and go to Real Madrid or whether he's not, but if you've got that going into a big game, you're a local lad as well, that won't be easy, the distractions of having all that noise.

"Real Madrid are a hell of an animal.

I think that will have probably unnerved him this week.

"Some lads see Liverpool and Manchester United as part of their career

Jamie thinks Trent's people invited the bid from Real Madrid, I think that's a big suggestion personally."

Addressing his co-pundit, Neville asked: "Why do Trent Alexander-Arnold's people think it's a good idea for him knowing Liverpool are going to say no?"

Carragher defended his claim, responding: "Because he's getting criticism that he might leave for free now if Real Madrid put a bid in in January and Liverpool don't accept, maybe they can say, 'well you were offered £30m to £40m', for me it was to buy a little bit of time if he goes for free, they can say Liverpool were offered £20m, £30m to £40m."

Slot backs TAA but accepts others will blame Madrid link

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot disagrees with the notion that Trent Alexander-Arnold was distracted by contract speculation during his performance against Manchester United, and says Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot was his problem
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