Liverpool captain defends team-mate after a poor performance against Manchester United

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has dismissed suggestions that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance against Manchester United was impacted by ongoing transfer speculation. The right-back struggled in Liverpool’s 2-2 Premier League draw at Anfield, giving the ball away before United took the lead and eventually being replaced in the 86th minute by Conor Bradley.

Prior to the match, reports surfaced claiming that Real Madrid had approached Liverpool about signing Alexander-Arnold in January, adding fuel to the fire surrounding the player’s future. Alexander-Arnold, like Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, is out of contract in the summer and is free to negotiate with overseas clubs.

However, when asked whether the transfer talk had affected his team-mate’s performance, Van Dijk was adamant that it had not. “No. I am fine with it,” the Liverpool captain stated. “Trent has his own people around him, his family, and we are there as well. He wants to perform in the best way possible, like we all do. That is the main focus.”

Van Dijk also addressed his own contract situation, revealing in October that discussions about extending his deal had started. However, he offered no new update following the United match.

Meanwhile, Salah, who has made clear that talks about his own future are still at an impasse, posted a picture on social media with Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk during the match, further highlighting the unity between the players despite their uncertain contract situations.

While the future of some of Liverpool’s key players remains in the balance, Van Dijk’s belief in Alexander-Arnold’s commitment to the team is clear, with both players focused on delivering the best performances possible for the club.