Former Liverpool player Jose Enrique has claimed right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been awful all season.
Speaking on TalkSPORT this morning, the Spaniard suggested that although lots of Jurgen Klopp’s players have been struggling for form this term, the 24-year-old has been a shadow of his former self.
“I don’t think it’s one problem,” Enrique said. “First of all, I think some of the players there have won everything.
“My honest opinion, the biggest one, is they didn’t really buy the players they needed, you know.
“You cannot let Sadio Mane [leave], then buy Darwin and Gakpo (obviously in January as well) – players that still need to be made [ready] for the Premier League. They’re doing okay but they’re no Mane.
“Salah, as well, he looks off completely. Van Dijk looks off completely. Trent has been really bad this season, as well. Obviously, I’m not just pointing out these players, because it’s been the whole team.
“But the truth is many world-class players in this team, they’ve been performing [like] if he [Klopp] had options, he would bench them.”
Enrique says Alexander-Arnold has been ‘really bad’
Whilst it may not have been his best season by all means, the rhetoric surround Alexander-Arnold is quite unfair.
He has put in a number of excellent defensive displays this year, but these are often forgotten quickly when he makes the odd mistake at the back.
Against Real Madrid last night, he certainly wasn’t the worst player in Liverpool’s back-line. He was actually very strong going forward.
The regular attacks aimed at the 24-year-old make it seem like the player is being scapegoated, as his criticism has become somewhat of a bandwagon for people to jump on.
The Scouser hasn’t been tearing up the Premier League like he has in the past, but that doesn’t mean he should be lamented each week after a defeat.
He still remains a crucial part of Jurgen Klopp’s plans.