Virgil van Dijk gives Trent Alexander-Arnold update after Real Madrid bid for Liverpool star
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Virgil van Dijk dismissed suggestions that the noise around Trent Alexander-Arnold will have played a part in his performance against Manchester United. Alexander-Arnold, 26, was at fault for United’s opening goal and put in a shambolic display in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool’s bitter rivals. The right-back gave the ball away 25 times during the game and failed to win a single duel before he was subbed late on for Conor Bradley.
The display came after a week of speculation around his future following an approach from Real Madrid to sign him this month. The defender is out of contract at the end of the season and like Van Dijk and Mo Salah, he has yet to agree a new deal. But Alexander-Arnold’s captain Van Dijk quickly rebuffed any notion that the display was down to the speculation with a one-word answer. When asked if believed the noise around Alexander-Arnold played a part, he said: “No.”.
Van Dijk was then questioned on whether or not the doubts about the futures of three players is something that would be playing on his mind. He added: “I am fine with it. 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. In my opinion, maybe ask him, that is the distraction… the game.”.
Van Dijk was not panicking about the two points dropped against a United side, who came into the game on the back of four straight defeats. The draw kept the Reds six points clear of Premier League title rivals Arsenal, with The Dutchman found it bizarre that Ruben Amorim’s side had been written off beforehand.
