Soccer

Trent for Tranmere? Roy Keane thinks Alexander-Arnold should be Birkenhead-bound

The former Manchester United captain was critical of the England international’s first-half display.

Roy Keane was critical of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s first-half show
Roy Keane was critical of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s first-half show (Nigel French/PA)
By Phil Casey, PA

Roy Keane suggested Trent Alexander-Arnold should be moving to Tranmere rather than Real Madrid after criticising the Liverpool player’s “schoolboy defending”.

Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a switch to the Spanish giants during the transfer window, but Keane was distinctly unimpressed with his performance in the first half of Sunday’s game against Manchester United.

Analysing the chances which Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund failed to convert at Anfield during half-time, Keane said on Sky Sports: “It’s too easy.

“Them [sic] chances for United [come from] a couple of balls over the top. We talk about how brilliant Trent is going forward, but Trent’s defending today; my goodness it’s like schoolboy stuff.

“There’s talk about him going to Real Madrid, the way he’s defending he’s going to Tranmere Rovers after this. He’s got to do better.”

League Two side Tranmere were quick to respond to Keane’s jibe on social media, posting a picture of their player Cameron Norman on X under the message: “Trent to Tranmere Roy? Nah, we’re alright thanks.”

Alexander-Arnold was eventually substituted in the closing stages of a thrilling 2-2 draw and Gary Neville questioned whether what he called an “insulting” bid from Real Madrid had played its part.

“I think the bid from Real Madrid is bad timing for him,” Neville said after the game on Sky Sports.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, whether he’s going to leave Liverpool and go to Real Madrid or whether he’s not, but if you’ve got that going into a big game, you’re a local lad as well, that won’t be easy, the distractions of having all that noise.

“Real Madrid are a hell of an animal. I thought it was insulting, to be fair, from Real Madrid. They behave like that sometimes, they think they can get what they want.

“Liverpool are a football club of immense stature. They’re never going to sell Trent Alexander-Arnold for 20 million quid in January so you’re taking the mickey a little bit.

“I think that will have probably unnerved him this week.”

Speaking before the game, former Manchester United captain Keane had been concerned about how his former club would perform against the Premier League leaders.

“I don’t see the evidence of thinking Man Utd could turn up here and do a good job because recently they’ve been very poor defensively,” Keane said.

“They don’t look like a team, they look weak, they look small; every time the ball goes in the area they look like they’re going to concede.

“I feel probably more worried than I ever have for this United team. I think it’s one of the worst-looking United teams I’ve seen in a long, long time.”