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Liverpool came up with the perfect response to Paul Scholes' baseless assumption about Arne Slot

-Credit: (Image: LFC)
-Credit: (Image: LFC)


The latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast was released on Thursday and, surprise, surprise, the guest was another former Manchester United player.

The podcast is generally entertaining, largely thanks to the chemistry between the hosts, in particular Roy Keane and Ian Wright, but it is lacking in variety when it comes to guests. Paul Scholes perched on the end of the breakfast bar for the latest edition and gave his two cents on Trent Alexander-Arnold's situation at Liverpool.

"Do you think Slot likes him?" Scholes asked Jamie Carragher, having observed the Liverpool manager's behaviour first hand as he carried out his media duties near the dug-out during the Reds' win over Manchester United.

He continued: "Because watching that game, every time he gave the ball away, he (Slot) is shaking his head, he kept looking around and turning around to his bench... I was down there and every time that he (Alexander-Arnold) was trying his long balls that he can do brilliantly... he (Slot) kept shaking his head and turning around. And I thought, 'I'm not sure he likes him'."

Alexander-Arnold has been substituted in all three of Liverpool's games so far this season, but he has also started all three of Liverpool's games so far this season, keeping the exciting Conor Bradley out of the team.

To suggest that Slot might not like Alexander-Arnold, just because he was visibly dissatisfied a few times during an emphatic away win over Liverpool's biggest rivals, is far-fetched.

Alexander-Arnold was excellent for England in their Nations League victories over Ireland and Finland during the international break, winning the Player of the Match aware in both.

You can bet Liverpool's social media admin was well aware of the noise surrounding Slot and Alexander-Arnold's relationship when they shared a video of the pair embracing on Thursday.

Footage showed Alexander-Arnold, smiling broadly, clasping hands with the Liverpool manager who said: "Man of the match two times! Well done, good to see you back."

Talk of a possible problem between Slot and Alexander-Arnold stretches back to Liverpool's win over Brentford in the club's first home game of the season, when TV cameras captured Slot and a clearly disgruntled Alexander-Arnold deep in discussion in the Anfield dug-out after he was taken off during the 2-0 win against Brentford.

Explaining his decision to take the 25-year-old off then, Slot said: "We have to take care of him because we need him for the whole season."

It shouldn't be forgotten that Alexander-Arnold came into the season off the back of a difficult summer on an individual level, as he was scapegoated for some of England's poor performances at the beginning of the Euros, before then barely being used towards the end of the tournament.

It's far too early to jump to any conclusions over the player's relationship with the manager, but the signs looked good when the pair reunited at the AXA Training Centre this week, and you can almost guarantee Alexander-Arnold will be on the Liverpool team sheet come 1:45pm on Saturday.