Liverpool manager Arne Slot has taken a parting shot at Trent Alexander-Arnold by criticising the defender’s lack of effort in training.
Alexander-Arnold will leave the Reds at the end of the season and is widely expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer.
The decision has not sat well with many Liverpool fans, and he was booed at Anfield in the match against Arsenal that followed.
Head coach Slot left him on the bench in their 3-2 defeat at Brighton and could do so again against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he was asked about if he has spoken to Alexander-Arnold following the negative reception.
“I do talk to him, quite a lot actually,” he said. “Although when we started pre-season, he was in my office quite a lot as well, for other reasons. And now he’s in my office a few times as well.”
The reporter then asked Slot about the pre-season conversation, and he said: “Maybe he said it himself… He’s going to leave either way, so why not tell it. Maybe it’s already a first gift I can give Xabi Alonso [who is expected to become the new Madrid manager].
“I wasn’t completely happy with every single minute, how he was on the training ground. In my opinion, in certain moments he could do a bit more, to say it mildly, and that’s all we talked about.
“Combined with when I said to him, ‘You’re a much better defender than everybody tells you, unfortunately you don’t show it all the time.
“‘And that’s why people sometimes say you’re not, this is a part of your game you need to improve. But if you are just at it and you’re focusing, concentrated…’
“There are not many players that can go around him because he’s fast, he’s agile, he has great mentality. But yeah, it’s about showing it every single game.
“Because in this world, we are just not only on the 34 games we do well, we are mainly just on the four games that we don’t do so well. So yeah, these things we spoke about in pre-season.”
Alexander-Arnold recently confirmed his exit with an emotional message to fans on social media to end speculation over his future.
“This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life,” he said, although Liverpool fans were still vocal with their boos.
Many noticed his reaction after the Brighton match as, despite the loss, the away supporters celebrated their Premier League title win.
TV cameras showed Alexander-Arnold looking towards the crowd and then turning with a seemingly blank expression on his face.
The right-back will make his 354th and final appearance for the Reds on Sunday if he features against FA Cup winners Palace.
It would offer him another opportunity for a send-off before he joins Madrid in what is understood to be a five-year deal.
However, Liverpool fans could express their discontent with more boos before their Premier League trophy lift.
