Roy Keane gives brutal 11-word Trent Alexander-Arnold verdict as he doesn't hold back

Roy Keane has doubled down on his Trent Alexander-Arnold stance with another scathing review of his defending for Liverpool.

Alexander-Arnold has endured a difficult period of late as his contract stand-off with the Reds has conicided with a dip in form for Arne Slot's title chasing side. While the 26-year-old has won a host of trophies in his time at Anfield, including the Premier League and Champions League, the right-back has often faced criticism for his defensive abilities.

However, his assumed limitations in the department have not stopped him from being linked heavily with La Liga giants Real Madrid, as Liverpool look to be struggling to keep him on Merseyside. Keane, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, claimed "he still defends like he has never played at right-back".

“If Trent Alexander-Arnold goes to Real Madrid, then good luck to him – as if Madrid don’t know how to defend," the former Manchester United captain said. "He’s played over 300 games and played for England, but he still defends like he has never played at right-back.

"He’s played all these games, and he must do training sessions, but he’s playing right-back, and people go at him like he’s confused and never seen something like that before. Trent defends as if Liverpool have had lots of injuries, and they’ve asked him to just fill in a position.”

Alexander-Arnold has been a mainstay in a Liverpool defence that currently has the joint second-best backline in the league with 20 goals conceded, alongside Nottingham Forest. Slot's team are still top of the table, four points clear with a game in hand after they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Forest, yet Alexander-Arnold has frequently come in for flak.

The England international also bore heavy judgement for his underwhelming role in Liverpool's recent 2-2 draw with United at Anfield. At half-time, Keane again ripped into Alexander-Arnold, blasting the Reds' star for exhibiting a "schoolboy" approach.

Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"Trent Alexander-Arnold has been all over the place defensively. His defending has been schoolboy stuff. He's got to do better," he said on Sky Sports. "They're talking about him going to Real Madrid. The way he's defending he's going to Tranmere Rovers after this."

Keane has form when it comes to brutally dressing down Alexander-Arnold. Back in January 2024, again on the Stick to Football pod, the former Republic of Ireland captain battled against Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright as he stated the Liverpool man wasn't up to the task of playing in defence.

"I can’t believe how bad [Trent Alexander-Arnold] is at defending," he said. "For a guy that’s played a lot of games in defence, it’s like he’s never played the position before. How bad he is at defending, it’s amazing when people just run past him."

Despite questions around his capabilities at full-back, Alexander-Arnold currently has an output of 85 assists and 21 goals for Liverpool in all competitions to date. Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp recently lamented the criticism of him, while current Reds' boss Slot also felt compelled to leap to the defence of his vice-captain earlier in the season - but did highlight the player's focus.

Image: PA) PA)

"The only thing I know is we are talking about a player who won the Champions League and a league title," said Slot. "It's clear to me he's been a good defender all his life. It's not about if he's capable of doing things. It's more about his concentration rate."

Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold claimed in September last year that he is focused on making defending his priority. "Yeah, good numbers," he said when talking about Liverpool's defensive record this season.

"I think I’m capable of many, many more [clean sheets] if I’m honest. We’ve talked about targets and aims and I said to him [Slot] I’d like to be the defender that no-one wants to come across. I’m someone who wants to learn, someone who wants to be the best, and someone who strives to be the best ever."

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