Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot, right, gives instructions to Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Arsenal, at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot waits for the start of the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Liverpool at American Express Stadium in Brighton, England, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Slot gives open hint that Alexander-Arnold is headed for Real Madrid
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) 鈥 Liverpool manager Arne Slot has given his first big hint that Trent Alexander-Arnold is headed for Real Madrid while revealing discussions he had with the England right back about his attitude in training sessions during preseason.
Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot, right, gives instructions to Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Arsenal, at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) 鈥 Liverpool manager Arne Slot has given his first big hint that Trent Alexander-Arnold is headed for Real Madrid while revealing discussions he had with the England right back about his attitude in training sessions during preseason.
Speaking Friday ahead of Liverpool’s final game of the season, Slot said he was happy to divulge the conversations he had with Alexander-Arnold because 鈥渉e鈥檚 going to leave either way, so why not tell it?鈥
鈥淚t is already a first gift I can give Xabi Alonso,鈥 a smiling Slot added, a nod to the fact that Madrid is expected to hire the former Bayer Leverkusen coach as a replacement for .
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Alexander-Arnold announced this month he’d be leaving Liverpool as a free agent at the end of the season after a 20-year association with the club. His switch to Madrid hasn’t been officially announced but he has been widely reported.
Slot said he still speaks regularly to Alexander-Arnold, much like he did early in preseason when 鈥渉e was quite a lot in my office.鈥
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 completely happy with every single minute how he was on the training ground鈥 Slot said. 鈥滻n my opinion in certain moments he could do a bit more, to say it mildly.
鈥淚 said to him, 鈥榊ou are a much better defender than everyone tells you, unfortunately you don鈥檛 show it all the time. And that is why people sometimes tell you this is a part of a game you need to improve.’
鈥淚f you are just at it and you are focused and concentrated, there are not many players who can go around him because he is fast, he is agile. He has great mentality. It’s about showing it every single game, because in this world we are judged not only on the 34 games we do well, we are mainly judged on the four games we don鈥檛 do so well.鈥
Slot said he hadn’t decided how many minutes he’d be giving Alexander-Arnold against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday. After the game, Liverpool’s players will finally get their hands on the Premier League trophy, with Slot’s predecessor, Jurgen Klopp, expected to be in attendance.
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation