“Lazy” – Sky Sports Presenter Dëstrøys Roy Keane Over “Can’t Defend” Trent Alexander-Arnold Claim
Roy Keane and his Manchester-based colleagues should exercise caution before making uninformed criticisms of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance for Liverpool.
The 26-year-old, whose contract is set to expire in the summer of 2025, remains under constant scrutiny for his defensive skills.
This scrutiny persists even as Liverpool hold the top spot in the Premier League, boasting the best defensive record in the division.
Some might argue that the team should have only conceded a single goal so far this season.
The “Trent Alexander-Arnold can’t defend” line being pumped out by certain ex-Manchester United stars is already more than a little boring. More to the point, it’s utterly disingenuous given that statistical evidence would point us in a completely different direction.
“With 10 minutes to go [against Chelsea] you’re 2-1 up and you take him off – that’s a great message. Yeah, we really trust you defensively,” Roy Keane spoke on The Overlap’s Stick to Football.
Could it be that our influential right-back has been dealing with some discomfort since returning from the international break? In fairness to the Irishman, he likely wasn’t aware of this situation, so we’ll let the 53-year-old off the hook on that point.
However, Sky Sports presenter Dougie Critchley’s recent post on X (formerly Twitter) highlights that Keane hasn’t made any effort to research and substantiate his perspective.
“14 tackles, a tally topped only by Moises Caicedo and Antonee Robinson in the Premier League.
“A 64% tackle success rate, better than Gabriel and Calafiori.
“The Trent Alexander-Arnold can’t defend narrative is just lazy at this point.”
Conflicting reports indicate that there’s still a long way to go before reaching a conclusive answer regarding the Liverpool’s vice-captain’s contract situation.
For a player partly driven by the desire for silverware, one would hope that Arne Slot’s impressive start at Anfield has given Trent Alexander-Arnold something to consider.
The Dutch manager could have achieved a flawless record across the first 12 games, if not for one clear setback against Nottingham Forest.
A strong start, of course, doesn’t guarantee a future overflowing with trophies. Nonetheless, it likely supports the head coach’s commitment to expanding Liverpool’s trophy collection in the coming seasons.
Ultimately, it comes down to finances, and we’re talking about a fullback who has reshaped the role for his generation. It should be an easy decision for Richard Hughes to loosen the budget.
In other news, Steven Gerrard Reveals the Secret to Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool Triumph, Urges Emotional Contract Renewal
