Trent Alexander-Arnold accused of being 'disrespectful' toward Arne Slot after spat

Liverpool has made a perfect start to 2024/25. It has two wins, two clean sheets and a new head coach who appears to be settling in very nicely indeed.

The Reds’ credentials should come under far harsher scrutiny at Manchester United on Sunday than they did against Ipswich and Brentford . Come home from Old Trafford with three points and Liverpool supporters will really start to believe a Premier League title challenge is on the cards.

But the world being the way it is in 2024 means that there has to be unrest, we must have drama, no matter how well things appear to be going. After being substituted in the 2-0 win over the Bees , Trent Alexander-Arnold looked very annoyed. He has now been accused of being “disrespectful” to Arne Slot .

READ MORE: Why Arne Slot substituted Trent Alexander-Arnold in Liverpool's win over Brentford
READ MORE: Alan Pardew slams Trent Alexander-Arnold for sulking and giving Arne Slot early Liverpool headache

The suggestion came from football pundit Chris Sutton. He was speaking on the ‘ It’s All Kicking Off! ’ podcast.

“The way Trent actually reacted in that moment, I thought that was pretty disrespectful to the manager,” Sutton said. Host Ian Ladyman then noted the difficulties players face these days in being constantly filmed and endlessly scrutinized.

But he didn’t stop there. “I think he [Alexander-Arnold] might feel a bit embarrassed about it this morning, once he realises it’s been caught and it’s out there” Ladyman said. “Simply because, it’s a new manager, Trent is a club guy, Liverpool through-and-through. He will not want to be seen giving the impression that he’s putting himself above the team,” he added.

Whatever your view on Alexander-Arnold’s actions, Slot gave a perfectly rational explanation for why he prematurely withdrew his starting right-back. "Trent came back from the national team, where in the beginning of the tournament he played quite a lot and then he didn’t,” he said .

“He had a few weeks off, came back and it is only his third game and we have to take care of him. We need him for the whole season and not only for the first two games.”

The head coach also said that he understood Alexander-Arnold’s reaction. “Every player wants to play 90 minutes but I don’t think the players that were on the bench from the start were really happy with the choice I made.” There’s no story of any real significance with what happened, just media outlets trying to engineer one.

Liverpool.com says: With everything going so well in the early days and weeks of Slot's reign, it is a touch disappointing that Alexander-Arnold gave the doomsayers what they want. But this will soon be forgotten. An assist at two or Old Trafford would be a good way to move on, Trent.