Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has come to the defense of Trent Alexander-Arnold following criticism of his performance in the 2-2 draw against Manchester United at Anfield. Van Dijk dismissed claims that transfer speculation, including reported interest from Real Madrid, has negatively affected his teammate.
Alexander-Arnold faced scrutiny after being partially at fault for Lisandro Martinez’s opening goal, with many noting he fell short of his usual high standards. The 26-year-old defender’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, allowing him to negotiate with overseas clubs. Reports suggest Real Madrid has shown interest, but Liverpool reportedly rejected their approach.
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane didn’t hold back in his criticism during a post-match analysis on Sky Sports. “There’s talk about him going to Real Madrid — the way he’s defending, he’s heading to Tranmere Rovers after this,” Keane quipped. “We all know how brilliant Trent is going forward, but today his defending was like schoolboy stuff.”
Tranmere Rovers responded humorously to Keane’s remarks, posting a photo of their full-back Cameron Norman on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption: “Trent to Tranmere, Roy? Nah, we’re alright, thanks.”
Former Manchester United right-back Gary Neville also weighed in, suggesting the transfer speculation could have been a distraction for Alexander-Arnold. “The timing of Real Madrid’s reported interest is unfortunate,” Neville said. “It could have unsettled him. Real Madrid is such a powerful club, and his passing and forward play today were the worst I’ve seen.”
Despite the chatter, Liverpool remains hopeful of convincing Alexander-Arnold to extend his stay, though he is eligible to leave as a free agent at the end of the campaign. Van Dijk, whose contract also ends this season, expressed confidence in his teammate’s resilience amid the ongoing transfer rumors.
“Trent has his own support system—his family and us as teammates,” Van Dijk said. “He wants to perform at his best, just like we all do. I don’t see the speculation as a distraction; the focus is always on the game.”
Liverpool will need Alexander-Arnold at his best as they face Tottenham in the League Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday, with the team still competing on multiple fronts.
