Trent Alexander-Arnold hits back at 'lazy opinion' that he can't defend, feels he receives unfair treatment

Trent Alexander-Arnold has hit back at suggestions he can't defend, branding it a "lazy opinion" and claiming "people watch me with a preconception".

The Liverpool right-back's attacking qualities are undisputed and he's quite rightly been praised for redefining the role of a modern day full-back following his performances over the last few years.

At the same, his defensive abilities have regularly been questioned by fans and pundits alike have questioned how he fares in 1v1 situations.

Gary Neville, who played the same position for England, even gave him a lesson on how to improve in a number of areas on Sky Sports Monday Night Football.

But Alexander-Arnold has grown tired of the claims and responded in emphatic fashion during an interview with talkSPORT.

“It’s the lazy thing to say," Alexander-Arnold said.

"People just watch the game and see what they want to see. There’s kind of that prejudice, I believe now. You see what you want to see at the end of the day.

“If you go to watch a game and have a perception that a player is lazy and you see them once not running, then in your mind they’re lazy. You see what you want to see, you don’t see the rest of the game where they’re running around, sprinting around, trying to do their thing.

“I suppose that’s where I feel like I’m judged. People go into games or people watch me play football with a preconception of ‘he’s not a good defender’ or ‘he can’t defend well’, so when I do have that one mistake or that one time someone gets past me, then that confirms what they think.

“At times it feels like it doesn’t matter how well I do, if I’m not perfect in that respect then it’s not good enough. I’m held to standards that potentially other players aren’t held to but that’s life, you’ve got to get on with it."

Going into the tournament, former United skipper Neville had said Gareth Southgate wouldn't trust Alexander-Arnold in a knockout fixture because he "does rash things".

Image: Alamy

In reply, the 24-year-old stated that he feels he performs better in "bigger games".

Alexander-Arnold was an unused substitute in England's first two Group B fixtures but came on as a second-half substitute in the 3-0 win over Wales.

The Three Lions take on Senegal in the round of 16 on Sunday.

Topics: Trent Alexander-Arnold, England, Liverpool, Football World Cup

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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