‘Got That Wrong Today’ – Jamie Carragher Identifies Rare Arne Slot Mistake in Clash Between Liverpool and Manchester United

Premier League legend Jamie Carragher has said Liverpool manager Arne Slot made a mistake by not hooking Trent Alexander-Arnold after Manchester United opened the scoring. 

Division leaders Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by 13th-ranked Manchester United in their Premier League clash at Anfield Stadium on Sunday, 5th January. Lisandro Martinez opened the scoring in the 52nd minute for Man Utd before Cody Gakpo restored parity for the hosts in the 59th minute.

Mohamed Salah fired Liverpool into the lead for the first time in the 70th minute after dispatching an ice-cool penalty. The Merseysiders, however, did not have the last laugh, as Amad Diallo made it 2-2 in the 80th minute.

Liverpool right-back Alexander-Arnold had a game to forget against Manchester United. He failed to make inroads into the opposition third and had a hard time keeping up with Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes. Before Slot took him off in the 86th minute, Alexander-Arnold misplaced all six of his crosses and 10 long balls, did not win any tackles, and lost all five of his ground duels.

Jamie Carragher: Arne Slot Should Have Subbed Trent Alexander-Arnold Off Sooner in Liverpool vs Manchester United

Former Liverpool defender Carragher was critical of Alexander-Arnold’s performance against Manchester United, suggesting the player should not have been on the pitch for as long.

Discussing on Sky Sports, the 2005 UEFA Champions League winner said:

“I think [Slot] got that wrong today. 

“I think he should have taken Trent off earlier. Not at half-time but see how the first 10 or 15 minutes go. But as soon as Man Utd got that first goal, I think Trent should have come off earlier.”

Alexander-Arnold, who has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, has received brutal criticism from pundits in the aftermath of the game against Manchester United. Liverpool boss Slot, however, is still firmly in his corner.

Responding to Alexander-Arnold’s critics, the Dutch tactician said:

“Trent has played mostly very good games for the club. Today was not his best game but that had to do with them [Manchester United] as well.

“Sometimes Ryan (Gravenberch) was not close enough to him so it was a two-on-one situation. I would put it more on the quality of (Diogo) Dalot and Bruno Fernandes.”

Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool will be back in action in the EFL Cup semi-final first-leg against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, 8th January.