Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has questioned whether Arne Slot ‘likes’ Trent Alexander-Arnold’s style of play for his Liverpool side.
Liverpool have enjoyed a perfect start to life under their new manager by winning their opening three games of the season, thrashing arch-rivals United at Old Trafford before the international break.
Alexander-Arnold has been part of a backline that is still to concede a goal this season, also playing the full 90 minutes in England’s Nations League games against Republic of Ireland and Finland.
But the Liverpool star has been taken off in each of his Premier League matches this season, not making it past the 77th minute.
Alexander-Arnold has entered the final year of his contract at Anfield amid speculation he could leave the club next summer.
And Scholes believes there have been signs of frustration from Slot having spotted the Red boss ‘shaking his head’ during their comfortable win at Old Trafford earlier this month.
‘Do you think Slot likes him?’ Scholes asked during his appearance on Stick to Football.
‘Watching that game on Sunday, every time he gave the ball, Slot was shaking his head, looking away and turning around to his bench.
‘I was down there, every time he was trying these long balls that he can do brilliantly, he [Slot] kept shaking his head. And I thought, I’m not sure he likes him.’
Reds legend Jamie Carragher agreed Slot will want to see less long passes as he gets the side playing in his vision, but was adamant Alexander-Arnold remains part of his long-term plans.
‘I think the way Slot wants to play, he doesn’t want these long balls as much,’ Carragher said. ‘He will want him to stay as a player.’
Alexander-Arnold was spotted looking unhappy on the bench after being replaced in the 2-0 win over Brentford in late August.
But Slot denied any suggestions of a rift with his right-back, insisting it was merely a case of managing his game time after a busy summer.
‘He didn’t look that happy being taken off, I understand,’ Slot said. ‘Every player wants to play 90 minutes but I don’t think the players that were on the bench from the start were really happy with the choice I made.
‘But Trent came back from the national team where in the beginning of the tournament he played quite a lot then he didn’t, had a few weeks off, came back – this was only his third game.
‘We have to take care of him because we need him for the whole season and not only for the first two games. The good thing for me is I have a very good back-up with Conor. That means we are taking care of Trent but he played a good game.’
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