Trent Alexander-Arnold will be used to it by now. But the scrutiny surrounding the Liverpool right-back moved up a notch after his performance in Sunday's 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United.

Alexander-Arnold, by his own high standards, was well below his best. Given the magnitude of the match, the fallout that followed was always to be expected. But it was magnified after it emerged that Real Madrid had a bid for his services in the January transfer window rejected.

The England international has long been linked with a move to Madrid amid his Liverpool contract impasse and questions were raised after the game with United whether the speculation surrounding his future had impacted his display against the Reds' bitter rivals.

READ MORE: I just watched Arne Slot give Liverpool press conference masterclass after impressive response

READ MORE: Arne Slot makes admission over January transfers and deal Liverpool have already agreed

Liverpool boss Arne Slot rejected that theory after the game and now former Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has jumped to the defence of a player who has won it all at Anfield since rising through the club's academy ranks,

“I think the criticism of Trent Alexander-Arnold recently has been really harsh,” he said. “He wasn’t at his best against Manchester United on Sunday, but I hate it when people talk about him as a right-back because he’s not a proper defender - he’s a provider of goals and assist at the other end of the pitch.

“He’s got the best passing range of anyone in the Premier League, even the likes of Kevin De Bruyne. He’s up there with the best we’ve ever seen at passing in the competition’s history, like David Beckham when he gets it on the right-hand side. The timing and weight of his passing is just sublime, so I think we sometimes overlook the positives that he offers and focus on the negatives.

“It wasn’t his best game last weekend, but I don’t think his head is in Madrid - it’s at Liverpool. If he were to leave the club then it will be in the summer, and I think he will want to leave on a high with a couple of trophies in the bag this season.”

Were Alexander-Arnold to leave for Madrid on a free transfer at the end of the campaign, the Reds would need another right-back to operate alongside Conor Bradley.

But Sherwood also believes that Liverpool need to look at left-back and picked out two Premier League players he believes could be long-term successors to Andy Robertson, who like Alexander-Arnold, has a played major role for the club.

“I’m not sure if many clubs will let go of their best players in January, but Liverpool have a few emerging options to go for in that left-back position in the long term,” Sherwood said. “Antonee Robinson at Fulham and Milos Kerkez at Bournemouth are two standout options who are all gettable for a club like Liverpool.

“I wouldn’t write off Andy Robertson just yet, but Liverpool will obviously be thinking about the long run as well, so it will be interesting to see which player they turn to.”

Vice-captain Alexander-Arnold, of course, is not the only big name player out of contract at the end of the campaign. Captain Virgil van Dijk and leading goalscorer Mohamed Salah are also now into the final six months of their Reds deals.

Salah has been vocal about his desire to remain with the club and Sherwood, speaking to Lucky Block, said: “I would only comment on Mohamed Salah’s contract approach if his performances were declining, but if anything he’s getting better. If I’m a Liverpool fan, then I’m thinking that he just needs to carry on with whatever he needs to do, because the kid is an absolute genius.

“He’s already scored as many goals as he did last season and he looks like he’s playing with a smile on his face again.

“I thought last season with Jurgen Klopp was the beginning of the end for Salah - he had that little rift with him on the touchline at the London Stadium - but he looks a lot happier at the club now. I personally think he will stay at Liverpool and sign a new contract – I just have a sneaky feeling his future lies at Anfield.”

The Reds are in action at Sherwood's club Tottenham tonight. The Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg tie kicks-off at 8pm.