Trent Alexander-Arnold sent damning message as Real Madrid verdict speaks volumes
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Real Madrid lost ground in the title race on Monday as Getafe claimed a 1-0 win at the Bernabeu, and Trent Alexander-Arnold was substituted before the hour markTrent Alexander-Arnold was criticized for his performance against Getafe(Image: Guillermo Martinez/NurPhoto)Trent Alexander-Arnold was handed a disappointing 3/10 rating following his performance in Real Madrid's loss to Getafe on Monday.Los Blancos succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at the Bernabeu, falling four points behind Barcelona in the La Liga title race.Former Liverpool star Alexander-Arnold started the game but was hooked after 55 minutes, and Spanish outlet AS criticized his performance in its player ratings as his indifferent season continued."Worse than in recent matches," it said of Alexander-Arnold's performance. "He offered very little in attack and looked hesitant in defense."His main quality, however, remains clear: a touch worthy of a world-class midfielder, one that greatly facilitates the build-up.READ MORE: Andy Robertson offered advice on next club as Liverpool defender faces transfer decisionREAD MORE: Jamie Carragher slammed 'daft' Alessandro Bastoni as Liverpool keen on transfer"That is immediately noticeable.
In almost every other aspect, he was invisible. Arbeloa replaced him before the hour mark with Carvajal."Despite generally playing well for Madrid of late, Alexander-Arnold also came in for criticism last week when Benfica scored at the Bernabeu in the second leg of the two sides' Champions League playoff.Rafa Silva opened the scoring at the Bernabeu to level the scores at 1-1 on aggregate, and Alexander-Arnold was criticized for not being close enough to the Benfica forward.TNT Sports pundits Joe Cole and Joleon Lescott both questioned Alexander-Arnold's involvement in the goal.Alexander-Arnold has had an indifferent first year at Madrid(Image: Getty Images)“Real Madrid were poor, both full-backs, [Alvaro] Carreras and Trent Alexander-Arnold, were leaving space down the outside, and they just kept exposing,” former Liverpool player Cole said.Analyzing the goal, he added: “Trent just looks lackadaisical.
It’s a great start for Benfica.”Meanwhile, Lescott said: “The full-backs, especially Trent, when he’s recovering - I don’t know why he’s trying to pull off and read the cut-back, there’s no forward in there. Can he get goalside and try to defend?”Madrid went on to win the game 2-1, securing a 3-1 aggregate victory and qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League, in which the Spanish giant will face Manchester City.Alexander-Arnold's new team has been drawn on the same side of the draw to Liverpool in the knockout stages, meaning the two teams could meet in the semi-finals.Liverpool must get past Galatasaray in the last 16, then Chelsea or PSG in the quarter-finals, while Madrid must get past City, then Atalanta or Bayern Munich in the last eight.