Former Premier League manager Tim Sherwood has come out in strong defense of Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, dismissing the recent criticism aimed at the right-back following his performance against Manchester United. The highly anticipated clash saw Alexander-Arnold’s defensive lapses contribute to United’s early lead, sparking a wave of criticism from pundits, including Roy Keane, who sarcastically suggested the full-back would be better suited to League Two side Tranmere Rovers than Spanish giants Real Madrid.
However, Sherwood believes that the criticism has been unwarranted and fails to recognize Alexander-Arnold’s unique role within the Liverpool squad. Speaking to Lucky Block, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa boss argued that the 24-year-old’s value lies in his creative contributions rather than traditional defensive duties.
“I think the criticism of Trent Alexander-Arnold recently has been really harsh,” Sherwood said. He wasn’t at his best against Manchester United on Sunday, but I hate it when people talk about him as a right-back because he’s not a proper defender – he’s a provider of goals and assists at the other end of the pitch.
Sherwood went on to praise Alexander-Arnold’s passing ability, comparing him favorably to some of the Premier League’s greatest playmakers. He’s got the best passing range of anyone in the Premier League, even the likes of Kevin De Bruyne. He’s up there with the best we’ve ever seen at passing in the competition’s history, like David Beckham when he gets it on the right-hand side. The timing and weight of his passing is just sublime, so I think we sometimes overlook the positives that he offers and focus on the negatives.
The former midfielder’s comments come amidst speculation about Alexander-Arnold’s future at Liverpool, with the player entering the final six months of his current contract. Despite rumors linking him with a move to Real Madrid, Sherwood dismissed the idea that the right-back’s mind is already in Spain.
It wasn’t his best game last weekend, but I don’t think his head is in Madrid – it’s at Liverpool. If he were to leave the club then it will be in the summer, and I think he will want to leave on a high with a couple of trophies in the bag this season.
Sherwood’s support for Alexander-Arnold was not the only topic of discussion, as he also weighed in on the contract situation of Liverpool’s star forward, Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian international recently shared a photo on social media featuring himself alongside Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, all of whom are in the final year of their contracts with no extensions announced.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Salah’s future, Sherwood expressed optimism that the prolific goalscorer will remain at Anfield. I would only comment on Mohamed Salah’s contract approach if his performances were declining, but if anything he’s getting better,” he said. If I’m a Liverpool fan, then I’m thinking that he just needs to carry on with whatever he needs to do because the kid is an absolute genius. He’s already scored as many goals as he did last season and he looks like he’s playing with a smile on his face again.
Sherwood even went as far as to suggest that Salah’s relationship with manager Jurgen Klopp, which had appeared strained at times last season, has improved. I thought last season with Jurgen Klopp was the beginning of the end for Salah – he had that little rift with him on the touchline at the London Stadium – but he looks a lot happier at the club now. I personally think he will stay at Liverpool and sign a new contract – I just have a sneaky feeling his future lies at Anfield.
As Liverpool prepares for a crucial stage of the season, with the Carabao Cup semi-finals, FA Cup third round, and a challenging Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest on the horizon, the club will undoubtedly be hoping that Sherwood’s predictions regarding the futures of Alexander-Arnold and Salah prove accurate. The Reds’ success in the coming months may well hinge on the performances of these two key players, and the resolution of their contract situations could have a significant impact on the team’s long-term prospects.
