'Alexander-Arnold answers demanded at Liverpool after James Maddison hammered'
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Trent Alexander-Arnold has questions to answer after he was spotted away from Liverpool during his New Year’s break, according to Richard Keys.
An Instagram post from Regina Corner showed the exit-linked Liverpool defender dining at the upscale Italian restaurant in Venice with his girlfriend, fuelling speculation about his future.
Keys, writing in his blog, criticised the trip, drawing comparisons to James Maddison, who faced backlash for attending a darts match during the break. Keys suggested that Alexander-Arnold should “answer” why he was away.
Maddison himself fired back after being criticised by a fan during Tottenham's poor run of form in the festive period.
Keys wrote: "What was he doing in Venice between Liverpool's last two games? James Maddison got hammered for attending an event in north London—from his home in north London—on a day off in north London. Why has no one asked TAA to answer similar questions?"
Liverpool have bigger problems than Alexander-Arnold's trip
Football Insider opinion
Of all the things to criticise Alexander-Arnold for, taking a short trip away certainly isn't one of them.
The defender has already faced heavy backlash from fans for his poor performance against Man United. For the first time, questions have been raised about whether rumours linking him to Real Madrid have become a distraction.
Keys calling for criticism of Alexander-Arnold feels misplaced, especially since Maddison shouldn't have been slammed for his break either. In fact, the midfielder gained more support from fans after calling his critic a "wally”.
Players need rest, and Keys' finger-pointing holds little weight. Players across the league often take mini-breaks during this period. Criticism should be reserved for poor performances, not personal downtime.
Liverpool have far bigger issues to address, including their Premier League title challenge and key contract renewals.
The hierarchy currently remain confident about extending the deals of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
However, Salah himself has admitted that progress is still far from completion, causing fan uproar. Securing new contracts for all three players, including Alexander-Arnold, should be the club's top priority.
With a Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham on 8 January, Arne Slot will hope the full-back’s focus hasn't wavered as his team continue to fight on all fronts.
In other news, Liverpool have an interest in a Nottingham Forest star.
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