Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrated passionately after scoring the decisive goal in Liverpool’s 1-0 win away to Leicester on Sunday, and Jamie Carragher reckons that there could be more to it
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes that there could’ve been some ‘anger’ in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s impassioned celebration against Leicester – before claiming that he should be benched. Alexander-Arnold, who’s poised to join Real Madrid once the summer transfer window opens, made his return from injury as a second-half substitute and scored in Sunday’s vital 1-0 victory.
The Reds right-back took his shirt off and celebrated passionately in front of Liverpool’s travelling fans. It was Alexander-Arnold’s first appearance since a wave reports in March claimed that his move to Madrid had been agreed.
Speaking about his celebration, Carragher theorised on Sky Sports: “You could look at Trent Alexander-Arnold’s goal celebration both ways. It might just be that real joy and sensation of scoring such a vital goal or bit of an anger in there for the criticism he has taken because of the contract situation. But he looks like a happy man. It’s a great moment for him.”
Alexander-Arnold has received criticism from some Liverpool supporters who are accusing him of turning his back on his boyhood club. The 26-year-old didn’t want to discuss his future post-match, saying: “Look, I’ve said all season, I’m not going to speak about my situation, I won’t go into detail. But these moments are always special. These memories will live with my forever.”
If Alexander-Arnold has decided to leave, Carragher wants to see Conor Bradley start at right-back until the end of the season, as Liverpool – now one win away from the Premier League title – plan for life after their academy product. “If Trent hasn’t committed – which he hasn’t, obviously, to the manager for next season – he shouldn’t be starting games,” Carragher stated.
READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold’s winner was fitting – but his Liverpool exit is still inevitableREAD MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold responds to question on Liverpool future after wild celebration
“Liverpool are not here to give someone a sendoff… In Conor Bradley, you’ve got a young player. It’s not like we’re talking about a 27, 28-year-old, we’re talking about a young player, who had a tough 15-20 minutes at the start of the game. And that’s part of becoming an experienced player.
“I went through that in certain games, Gary [Neville] who’s commentating will’ve gone through situations like that. It’s not about, ‘Oh, let’s give Trent a sendoff’. It’s about, ‘Okay, we need to assess whether Conor Bradley is the guy for us next season playing week in, week out’.
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“The decision Liverpool will have in terms of Trent moving on is, ‘Does Conor Bradley become our first-choice right-back and we buy a backup player who’s maybe a utility player who can maybe play centre-back?’ Or are buying a first-choice right-back and Conor Bradley’s gonna have to battle with him?’.
“So, that lad needs as much experience as he can possibly get. Yes, bring him [Trent] on as you did today if you need to go and win the game, maybe against Spurs or a couple of weeks after that. But in terms of starting games right now, if Trent hasn’t committed to the club – which he obviously hasn’t – Conor Bradley should be starting every game”
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