The rare sight of 'proper snow' across Merseyside on Sunday morning put Liverpool's much-anticipated match against Manchester United in some doubt momentarily. Most supporters, including this one, were desperate for the match not to be called off. After all, surely there could never have been a better time to play United?

Ruben Amorim might be one of the youngest coaches around but the performances of his team - a rapidly falling giant - must have surely aged him pretty quickly since he swapped a pleasant climate and general adulation in Lisbon for cold dark days and boos at Old Trafford.

Kopites got their wish and the match went ahead, but football is never straight forward and instead of inflicting another heavy and memorable defeat on the Red Devils an eventual 2-2 scoreline masked what was a pretty terrible game of football.

United were afforded plenty of credit for putting their recent woeful outings behind them and turning up in a much better frame of mind at Anfield, but in truth Liverpool were undeniably below-par. The visitors had a clear game plan to disrupt their hosts and turn the contest into an unappealing spectacle, which they succeeded in doing.

In the end Arne Slot's side drew this game after being in a winning position, but I don't think there could have been too many complaints had United nicked a winner. Everything has been going Liverpool's way of late, but talk of cruising to a record-equalling 20th English league title is dangerous in January. Complacency is devastating and here was the evidence.

The Reds' rampant form and results have been so impressive that the lurking issue of three of the club's very top stars being out of contract in less than six months has not really been raised as a significant problem in Liverpool's pursuit of the Premier League title - until now.

A week is a long time in football and from Real Madrid's reported approach to the Reds with a £20m offer for Trent Alexander-Arnold hitting the news last Tuesday, the homegrown right-back was very much under the spotlight against United at Anfield and he did not emerge from the contest very well.

Alexander-Arnold has never been hailed for his defensive qualities but they appeared to be at their most vulnerable against a United side who had lost four of their last five matches. After leaving the ground, a scan of social media (the unofficial headquarters of knee-jerk reactions) showed that Liverpool's No. 66 was getting it in the neck for underperforming when his very future at the club is in serious jeopardy.

This was somewhat in contrast to how things played out from the middle of the Kop, but not entirely. Alexander-Arnold has always enjoyed great support from the match-going crowd. His regular rounds of applause - sometimes instigated by himself - might not be for a miserable old-timer like me, but demonstrate the affection and high esteem he has been held in by the home supporters for years.

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Sunday however, felt a bit different. There was no singing of his name but plenty of groans and disgruntlement when problems surfaced on his side of the pitch. As the game wore on, there were calls from a fair few onlookers for Slot to replace him with Conor Bradley as Liverpool looked to try and wrestle control back from their dogged rivals.

By the time the change eventually did happen in the 86th minute, United had already scored twice from successful moves that started on Liverpool's right-hand side. That move was too little too late for some.

Unsurprisingly for any Anfield regular, Alexander-Arnold was not roundly booed or jeered when he left the pitch, but there were some boos and some jeering. It is not in the nature of Liverpool's match-going supporters to resort to this, even if one of their own players has become the subject of supporter dissatisfaction. But make no mistake, the Kop faithful are not happy with him.

The panning he received on social media after the match was much worse - as are most things to do with online public platforms - but while supporters have every right to air their thoughts and opinions via whatever channel they chose, there is a very good reason why I think this is no time to turn on one of Liverpool's favourite sons.

There's no doubt that this unsettling episode will have made it's way back to the Spanish capital and that will be music to the ears of Los Blancos. Real Madrid are the kings of transfer dark arts and their cheeky enquiry for Alexander-Arnold on the eve of the January transfer window was their first move in a protracted game of cat and mouse that could rumble on for the next six months.

It is the classic tactic of divide and conquer. If Alexander-Arnold has truly not yet made his mind up about his future then Madrid would be all too happy to see Liverpool's own supporters turn on their own vice-captain. It may even help to secure an earlier move but I think the Reds would be wise to pass on that at all costs.

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Receiving £20-£25million for Alexander-Arnold now might sound better then losing him for nothing in the summer, but at what cost to Liverpool's pursuit of serious silverware? Better to keep hold of him now and hope that the outcome of the season produces a positive ending both on and off the pitch.

Everything has been going right for Arne Slot and Liverpool - better than anyone could have expected following the shock exit of Jurgen Klopp - but disgruntlement over the contract situations of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold cannot be allowed to veer the Reds off the path to glory this season. The Premier League is there for the taking and anything could happen in the three other cup competitions.

Whilst it is completely reasonable to believe that Liverpool's owners should never have found themselves in this highly unusual and somewhat risky position with regards to player's contracts, that won't change the situation now but ultimate success on the pitch just might.

There's no point in turning on Alexander-Arnold now - there's a Premier League title to be won - and not one that is during a global health pandemic.