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Nations League | League B

Oct 13, 2024 at 5pm UK

Helsingin olympiastadion

Finland
1 - 3
England

Hoskonen (87')

FT(HT: 0-1)

Grealish (18'), Alexander-Arnold (74'), Rice (84')

Roy Keane criticism of Trent Alexander-Arnold "ludicrous" and "parroting old cliches"

By Barney Corkhill, Editor

Published: October 15 2024 | 20:51

Last updated: November 12 2024 | 21:32

Roy Keane's criticism of Trent Alexander-Arnold's defensive ability after England's 3-1 win over Finland is slammed as "ludicrous" and "parroting old cliches".

Roy Keane's criticism of England and Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been described as "ludicrous" and "parroting old cliches" by Liverpool expert David Lynch.

The full-back provided the standout moment of England's 3-1 victory over Finland on Sunday, firing home his side's second goal with a stunning free kick.

Alexander-Arnold was playing out of position at left-back - a role he had never before fulfilled at international level - but still managed to scoop the official man of match award for his performance.

However, after the game, Keane chose to lambast Alexander-Arnold's defensive ability during his punditry duties, saying: "I can't believe how bad he is defensively."

The 26-year-old's defensive work has come under the spotlight on numerous occasions in the past, but Lynch has hit out at the narrative that has built around that part of Alexander-Arnold's game.

"It's ludicrous. It's one way to very quickly out yourself as someone who knows very little of what they're talking about," Lynch told Sports Mole.

"I just didn't really understand it, and also it didn't seem like the game that was necessary to go in on him like that about it."

What did Roy Keane say about Trent Alexander-Arnold?

Keane initially praised the quality of the Liverpool man's free kick, but went on to suggest that Alexander-Arnold would be a weak link against stronger opposition.

"You give time to Trent, because his decision making and quality of passing is fantastic, but I can't believe how bad he is defensively and against better teams he'll be punished," he told ITV Sport.

"If you saw him the other night defending (against Greece), it looked like he'd never played right-back before!"

Alexander-Arnold has been a cornerstone of the Liverpool side that has won every top-tier trophy available to them over the last six years, while he has also been included in the Premier League Team of the Year three times, the Champions League Team of the Season twice and been named the PFA and Premier League Young Player of the Season.

"I respect Roy Keane as an unbelievable footballer and I do think he's a good pundit, but I think he's fallen into a bit of a trap with this one in terms of parroting old cliches," Lynch told Sports Mole.

"It's something that's become a bit of an established truth even though there's not really fundamental truth behind it. There's no way Liverpool could have had this huge weakness at right-back and won the things they have in recent years, it's just not possible. You cannot carry a player who is that bad.

"Even in their pomp when they were winning the Champions League, winning the Premier League with ease and they were defensively incredibly solid, it's not like the other players were spending their entire game at right-back subbing in for him - he had to do a lot of one-on-one defending.

"It happens a lot and you see this season in particular where I do think he has taken a slight jump in terms of increased commitment to that aspect of his game, but he's never been absolutely shambolic because he just couldn't win the things that Liverpool have won with him there being that bad."

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold pictured on September 21, 2024 © Imago

Alexander-Arnold criticism might die down if he joins Real Madrid

At 26, Alexander-Arnold has already made more than 300 appearances for his boyhood club, but as things stand he is on course to leave Anfield on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Lynch has previously urged Liverpool to make him their top priority - above Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah - when it comes to contract discussions, but admitted that the spotlight might fade on the full-back's defensive work if he left for Real Madrid.

"I think he's probably never going to fully shake that off but at the end of the day if he keeps playing well and keeps defending well and then brings everything else that he brings to the game, then it's good news for Liverpool at the end of the day," Lynch told Sports Mole.

"I do wonder if some of those criticisms about his defending would go away if he went and signed for Real Madrid and people didn't see him every week and didn't see the odd moment where it doesn't go right, because if you're a full-back you are going to get beaten sometimes. Then people would just be talking about all the good things in his game.

"Maybe that's what he's got to face when he's under the spotlight in the Premier League and we do see him week in, week out. But there's not a single Liverpool fan who's got a doubt about his qualities both on the defensive and the offensive aspects, and I think they'll find it quite easy to dismiss the opinions of a former Manchester United midfielder!"

Alexander-Arnold will now return his focus to Liverpool duties, with the Premier League leaders beginning a difficult run of fixtures when they host Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday.