Alexander-Arnold and Arne Slot tensions emerge after what Scholes saw at Liverpool
Paul Scholes has suggested that there were tensions between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Arne Slot at Liverpool as early as September.
While Liverpool have a lot of reasons to be joyful, having won the Premier League title, Alexander-Arnold has been dominating the headlines in recent days.
This comes after the England international announced that he will be leaving the Reds when his contract expires at the end of the season, with a move to Real Madrid already said to be lined up.
While Alexander-Arnold’s exit has been in the pipeline for months, the official confirmation did not go well among the Anfield faithful.
This was evident when the right-back was booed when he came on as a substitute during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, 11 May.
Scholes says Slot did not want Alexander-Arnold
Pundits across the country have been critical of Liverpool fans’ treatment of Alexander-Arnold ever since he announced his departure.
Now, Scholes has claimed that Slot did not like the 26-year-old since he arrived at Anfield, pointing out how he was frustrated with the full-back’s playing style during the Reds’ 3-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford in September.
| Matches | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Minutes |
| 43 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 3044′ |
The United legend went as far as saying Alexander-Arnold may have made up his mind to leave the Merseyside-based club and join Real Madrid in the wake of that game, with the Dutchman evidently unimpressed by him.
“I actually wasn’t sure Arne Slot liked him in his team”, Scholes said on The Overlap (14 May).
“I did the United game at Old Trafford, and he kept hitting these passes, these long passes.
“I don’t think he wants that, he kept shaking his head, putting his head down and looking at his bench.
“It wasn’t the type of right-back he wanted, I don’t think. I think he wants it to be a bit more controlled.
“You never know, around that time, he might have been thinking, ‘I’m [off] if Madrid want me now’.
“He could have signed his deal any time around then.”
Liverpool to sign Jeremie Frimpong
While Slot may have been frustrated by Alexander-Arnold at times, it would be wrong to suggest that he did not want the right-back at Liverpool at all.
Nevertheless, it is also true that the Dutch tactician will not be too bothered about losing the defender.
The Reds have already been linked with several right-backs, including Jeremie Frimpong.
Frimpong is said to be keen on joining the Premier League champions this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen happy to let him leave if his £29.5million release clause is met.
Apart from Frimpong, Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in RB Leipzig’s Lutsharel Geertruida.