Liverpool were deservedly beaten by Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday as they gave up ground in the first-leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
The Reds were well below their best in North London and now have plenty of work to do during February’s second-leg.
Arne Slot went strong with his line-up and will be extremely disappointed with the way his players turned up.
One major decision Slot made with the Liverpool team was to bring in Conor Bradley for the under-fire Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold was awful against Manchester United on Sunday and the right-back could not complain with Slot’s decision.
With Bradley still coming back to full fitness, tough, the Liverpool head coach chose to take him off with half an hour left to play. On came Trent with the eyes of the world on him once again.
Trent Alexander-Arnold ‘absolutely brilliant’ against Tottenham
The result was a really disappointing one for Liverpool, but in truth it really has been coming.
The Reds have been fortunate of late to maintain their 24-game unbeaten run across all competitions. If they were going to lose one, this was the one to do it in.
Nevertheless, one real positive – perhaps the only one – of Liverpool’s evening was Alexander-Arnold’s performance. The 26-year-old looked fired up and his quality on the ball was evident right from the first moment.
Trent even went close to getting the game’s opening goal, somehow controlling a rebound to fire a shot low towards the Spurs goal. After Radu Dragusin got back to clear off the line, Sky Sports commentator Alan Smith raved about the effort.
READ MORE: Liverpool player ratings vs Tottenham as Trent Alexander-Arnold responds to Man United criticism
“What a strike form Alexander-Arnold this is, from a really difficult angle,” said Smith. “Have a look at that. Dragusin just ducking back behind his keeper, doing what all good defenders do. That is as clean as you like from Alexander-Arnold.”
“He’s made a difference with the ball, absolutely brilliant when he came on,” the pundit later added on Liverpool’s No.66.
Alexander-Arnold shows what he’s been missing
Despite the loss, Alexander-Arnold’s performance was one of real encouragement.
Gone was the moody, lethargic body language seen at Anfield on Sunday, back was the fiery, committed Trent we’ve seen on the past.
Obviously, the 26-year-old’s contract situation is not going to go away anytime soon. But if he keeps up this level for the time being, fans can have little complaint.
Brilliant to see from Trent and whatever the result tonight, in the bigger picture this is great news for Liverpool.
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