Trent Alexander-Arnold remained as he left Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
The right side of Liverpool spoke with the media over the weekend, but the smile on his face stressed the difference of one week.
He had just swapped shirts with Accrington Stanley midfielder Liam Coyle, who played through his looks for Liverpool’s under-16s. There’s also a warm exchange with visiting director John Doolan, who brought Alexander-Arnold to Kirkthrough Academy at the age of seven. “Such a glorious, humble guy, he showed his class,” Dolan said.
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Arne Slot, who had jumped in his defense after the rage that surrounded his functionality opposed to Manchester United, who followed Liverpool rejecting one of Real Madrid to point him out in January, also sang his praises.
“I can communicate about it for hours,” joked the location about the quality of the very good attack through Alexander-Arnold in a 4-0 win against the Ligue Deux fighters in the third circular of the FA Cup.
But what will have meant the most for the English foreigner is the reaction of the Anfield crowd, either to his target and to his substitution, when Conor Bradley replaced him on the spot.
After being the target of fans’ ire in the error-strewn stalemate with United, there was a collective show of support and he returned the applause with interest.
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“He will only help him, us, ourselves, because if you need to do special things the season, we have to do it together,” Slot said. “Not only players, not only players with the manager, however, in fact, players with fans. “
The captain in the absence of virgil rest Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, replied with his first Instagram position from 2025 to 11. 9 million fans, a symbol of him celebrating with his arms extended to the Sir Kenny Dalglysh position.
Despite developing noise around his future, the year 26 years in large part in silence on the subject this season. He did not talk to the media written in English since September, when, after the 3-0 victory opposite Bournemouth, he told reporters: “I need to be a Liverpool player this season (at least) is what he would say.
“Look, I have been at the club 20 years now, I have signed four or five contract extensions, none of those have been played out in public, and this one won’t be either.”
Alexander-Arnold clung to this position. When he has conducted interviews with television rights holders since then, the subject has been prohibited.
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For him, it is a consultation of appearance for his club of years of training, while the procedure is underway. The disadvantage of remaining silent is that others fill the void. However, the temptation to respond to some of the criticisms that arose, without short of loading fuel to shoot was resolved.
His age, his courage, his prestige as a local hero and the fact that Madrid’s interest has intensified that his scenario is very different from that of Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, who also concluded the last six months of his current deals.
The PR is also mixed.
Van Dijk faces and answers questions from the media after the match, but created some titles with commentary on his future.
Despite his dominant performances so far this season, which makes it clear that Liverpool will have to keep him, the Dutch defender has never publicly sought the warmth of the Anfield hierarchy. As a captain, you feel a duty to make sure that the accessory remains fully in the cutlery delivery.
Asked by Sky Sports for an update after the 2-2 draw with United, he replied: “Nothing. I’m calm about it. We will see what happens in the future. At this point, I have absolutely no update.”
Like Van Dijk, Salah has also indicated that his preference is to remain in his place. However, the prolific Egyptian striker has used the media and social media to develop tension at Liverpool.
Salah obviously sought to withdraw anything from his chest after the 3-2 victory in Southampton in November when he told reporters: “I have not yet won to stay in the club. I am probably more out of the door than inside. ” “
Since then, he has won at least one bid. But the dark updates recommend that there is still a significant gap between what is required and what is on the table.
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“We’re a long way from that . . . nothing has changed,” he told Sky Sports after last month’s 5-0 win at West Ham when asked if there was any positive news on a new deal imaginable. , told the same station: “There is no progress there. We are far from any progress. “
The day after scoring his 21st purpose of the season opposite United, Salah’s selection of symbols posted on his 64 million fans on Instagram (as well as 17M on Facebook and 19m on X) revealing.
There is a prestige of Salah on a free kick along Alexander-Arnold with Van Dijk in the background. It is slightly cryptic given the prestige of the trio contract.
– Mohamed Salah (@MOSALAH) January 6, 2025
He asked for his perspectives in the publication of social networks forward of Sky’s flagship on Monday night, Liverpool’s legend aware that expert Jamie Carragher sought to kidnap Salah’s conversation.
He said: “I would say that Virgil Van Dijk has left this total scenario this season as the club’s captain in a superior esteem: the way it has been carried out, performances in the field, the way in which he has led the team .
“He met a genuine statesman in the way he controlled him. Ask questions, he overthrew them. Cross fingers, signature. The other two could see Virgil van Dijk and eliminate a sheet of his book. »
Responding to that clip on X, Salah posted: “I’m starting to think you’re obsessed with me.” The words were followed by a winking emoji and by Sunday it had been viewed over 21million times.
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“I have an obsession with Mo Salah, but I don’t think it’s the type of obsession that he thinks is,” Carragher replied in the antenna. “It is no longer an obsession with football and see it with a red shirt. I come, they ask me a question, I answer as diplomatic as possible. I told myself: “I’m not going to criticize Mo Salah or Trent, I’m going to enjoy how Virgil Van Dijk controlled him. ” I will return in all kinds of problems.
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It’s a gentle exchange, however, the fact that Salah felt he wanted to worry (feed the news cycle in the process) under pressure to preference non-stop to verify the story with respect to public opinion.
Carragher’s profile and prestige as a legend of the club, and his global succeed through his paintings in the NetPaintings of TV American TV CBS, make sure that his words bring weight.
“He received a small stick in the costumes this week, that’s safe,” Andy Robertson smiled with CBS left after the victory of the November Champions League opposite to Madrid in reference to Carragher who describes Salah as “selfish “For the comments he made after the game in Southampton.
“Did it go beyond the mark? No,” Robertson added. “I think he’s paid to do his job. He’ll have to give his opinion and whether we agree or not, this is another story!”
Mounting a few pens is a professional hazard in Carragher’s line of paints. Lionel Messi The issue of being outside the gates his team of the year and sent him a personal message on Instagram that described him as a “donkey” (donkey). Cristiano Ronaldo looked after blocking him on the key line at Old Trafford following comments that United would be bigger without him.
Carragher isn’t paid to sit on the fence. He’s not doing anyone’s bidding for them as the impasse over the contracts at Liverpool continues. He’s had a torrent of abuse online from Salah fans accusing him of having an agenda — but before Christmas, he named him as the second-greatest forward of the Premier League era behind Thierry Henry. He has also spoken about Salah being a potential Ballon d’Or winner this year if current standards are maintained.
The former Liverpool defender also open when he arrived in Alexander-Arnold. Giving a heated debate in the studio of the sky after the draw with United, he said that the right side “would have known that Real Madrid made an offer . . . through cutting a noise before a great party. ” However, he continued to say that if he is going to Spain in a loose movement in the summer, “there should be no criticism, since he charges nothing” and that he remains desperate for him to stay.
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Carragher knows from Revel that local players tend to be judged differently. It can be taken for granted. To say that until recently the only KOP banner requiring homeowners to dig deep to renew the contract of someone committed to Salah.
Alexander-Arnold didn’t revise to influence the enthusiast base or put records on time. No main point gave the impression regarding the contract you offer that it has been made. He simply allowed the typhoon of anger around him while reflecting the greater resolve of his life.
On Saturday, it brought a very necessary calm.
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(Superior photo: Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates the part of Accrington Stanley; through Liverpool FC Getty Images)