‘Clueless’ – Simon Jordan slams Daniel Sturridge for comments on Trent Alexander-Arnold

01/06/2025 01:00 PM

Ex-Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge has been heavily criticised by Simon Jordan for his comments on the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Following the 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Anfield, Liverpool's right-back was the hot topic after his defensive abilities were questioned once more. 

Alexander-Arnold is one of three star players at Liverpool who are out of contract in the summer, alongside Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk. 

Real Madrid are interested in the right-back and have already shown their interest, sending in a £20million bid to sign him in January, as opposed to waiting until summer when they can sign him on a free transfer. 

Throughout the week the trio have been the cause of much speculation over their future at the club, with Salah claiming there has been no progress in talks over a new deal.

But it was the 26-year-old's defensive performance which was subject of heavy post-match analysis from the match on Sunday evening. 

Speaking after the game, Sturridge and Carragher clashed over Alexander-Arnold's future and his attitude towards it. 

After the 2-2 draw, Sturridge said that it was a ‘lose-lose situation’ for Liverpool, whether Alexander-Arnold left for a hefty price in January or for free in the summer.

“The club have clearly known that his contract was running down, but now they’ve put it all on Trent as if it’s Trent’s fault that Real Madrid have put a bid in,” Sturridge said.

“We don’t know if contracts have been offered or rejected… to leave these three players in a predicament like this is shocking” Sturridge said.

Jordanclaimed that Sturridge was 'clueless' and 'doesn't understand how it actually works' regarding the transfer situation. 

Jordan said: “How is it the club’s fault if a player doesn’t sign the contract?

“He refuses to sign a contract and runs his contract down. That’s not the club’s fault, that’s the player’s desire and agent’s opportunity.

On Sturridge, Jordan added: "He’s clueless and doesn’t understand how it works. Liverpool don't want to lose Alexander-Arnold, and they certainly don't want to lose him as a free. But you can't drag a horse to water and make it drink.

"You can't give it opportunities to want to do so and if you've offered him contacts and I'm sure Liverpool have done, and the player goes, 'no, thank you very much I'm going to run this contract down because the opportunity is mine on a free', that's the nature of transfers now. 

"It's got nothing to do with Liverpool being remiss," Jordan added. 

Martin Keown intervened, adding that he thought Sturridge 'had a point', saying: "I think Carragher has made this situation worse." 

"I think he's waved a flag at it, maybe four or five weeks ago and said, 'do you want to be a [Steven] Gerrard or do you want to be a [Steve] McManaman?'" Keown said. 

"Trent has won achieved virtually everything and has won every single medal you can win at a club side, maybe he wants to make the next step. I don't think he's going onto the pitch thinking about Real Madrid, I think he's thinking about winning for Liverpool.

"I don't think he was the only Liverpool player that didn't play especially well yesterday. I didn't hear anyone talk about Curtis Jones, who was a little bit anonymous" said Keown. 

Jordan also added that Carragher has played to a ‘populist gallery’ with his comments on Sunday with the Liverpool legend saying that he was ‘disappointed’ with the Real Madrid news circulating ahead of the Man United clash.

“The most important thing is Liverpool winning the league” Carragher added. “My problem is, Liverpool are going for a league title here, it’s January and he [Trent] would have known that and it would kick up a fuss ahead of a big game.”

Many thought that the distraction of Real Madrid's interest had an effect on his performance throughout the game, with 54 per cent of Man United's attacking touches coming down his side. 

Liverpool boss Arne Slot also admitted that it 'wasn't Trent's best game' but reminded fans of the performances he has shown across the season so far. 

Slot also added that the Real Madrid chatter did not affect him, but it was ‘having to play Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot‘.

“They are two starters for Portugal and two great players” Slot said.

“It was clear that Trent had some difficult moments, as we as a team had. But that for Trent is not the first time, and not for the majority of the games he played for this club they are very very good.”

The 2-2 draw at Anfield saw an empty first half before all four second-half goals came in typical derby fashion, with the visitors taking the lead through Lisandro Martinez before Cody Gakpo levelled.

Salah gave Liverpool the lead through a penalty before Amad Diallo struck in the 80th minute for some late drama.