Xabi Alonso admits 'bitter taste' after Liverpool Trent Alexander-Arnold boos

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When questioned about his decision to bring on Alexander-Arnold, Alonso responded: "It was an intense game, and we know the atmosphere in Anfield on a Champions League night in a European 'Clasico'."We needed his quality and we needed his threat from the wing. He was ready for that, no problem."The only goal of the match came shortly after the hour mark when Alexis Mac Allister headed home a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick, following Jude Bellingham's booking for a foul on Ryan Gravenberch.Alonso commented: "At half-time we said we needed to be in the game to have an opportunity but then we conceded a lot of fouls and Thibaut Courtois wasn't able to save that header from the set-piece.

Thibaut, though, was fantastic."But we have to understand we can't commit so many fouls as the game could get away from us like it did today."When questioned whether Real had lacked intensity and energy against a lively Liverpool side, Alonso responded: "I don't have those feelings. We competed well, Szoboszlai had an opportunity in the first half and Thibaut made a great save but we played at a high rhythm.Trent Alexander-Arnold was heavily booed at Anfield (Image: Getty)"What we were lacking today was perhaps to hurt them in the final third and be a real threat.

We leave with a bitter taste in the mouth but we have to analyse what we did today. We have to learn from these defeats." Read next Invalid emailWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you.