Alexander-Arnold gives Tuchel headache with 'schoolboy' defending vs Man Utd

It wasn't the snow that put the skids under Trent Alexander-Arnold's defensive reputation in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Manchester United.

Or even the damning comments from TV pundit Roy Keane in the Anfield studio at half time. No. The only thing to blame for people taking to social media to suggest the Liverpool star couldn't tackle a sponge pudding, was the performance of the player himself.

And it will have left new England boss Thomas Tuchel scratching his head as he left Anfield. Tuchel is on a whistle-stop tour of the country, watching as many games and players as he can ahead of March's World Cup qualifiers.

Alexander-Arnold - out of contract in the summer and linked to a move to Real Madrid - is sure to be in his Three Lions squad for these two games, but where would he play him? On this evidence, right back is not an option.

While Gareth Southgate's decision to pick him in midfield at last summer's Euros turned into a disaster. Both of United's goals in this thrilling game came from the right side of Liverpool's defence. And on both occasions, Alexander-Arnold was nowhere to be seen.

With the game in the balance, Jamie Carragher even suggested the 26-year-old had to be taken off. And he was minutes later. Booked then hooked, because Liverpool boss Arne Slot had finally realised the full back was more likely to lose the game for his team, than win it.

Time and again, Diogo Dalot made Alexander-Arnold look like he was treading in treacle, as well as all the sleet. And that's quite an achievement, because let's be honest, Dalot is hardly Cristiano Ronaldo or Kylian Mbappe when in full flight.

It resulted in him getting a verbal roasting from Virgil van Dijk in the second half. But this was nothing compared to the brutal words of Keane, who claimed Alexander-Arnold's defending was more deserving of a move to Tranmere Rovers than Madrid.

Keane might resemble a parody at times, but there was nothing comical about his summing up of someone who continues to swerve between the sublime and ridiculous.

He said: "We talk about how brilliant Trent is going forward, but Trent's defending, my goodness it's like schoolboy stuff. There's talk about him going to Real Madrid, but the way he's defending he's going to Tranmere Rovers after this. He's got to do better."

Alexander-Arnold looked like someone whose mind was on Madrid, instead of his rivals from Manchester. And opponents who left Merseyside with an unexpected but thoroughly deserved point thanks to some proper defending from Harry Maguire.

Maguire was immense from start finish. The only thing missing was his woeful finish at the death, when he should have won the game.

But Maguire isn't in the United team to score goals, he's there to stop them. Something Alexander-Arnold should care to remember about himself as well.