Trent Alexander-Arnold was always going to be a talking point one way or another against Manchester United after the links with Real Madrid — and it would be fair to say the Liverpool ace didn't have his best game.

The Reds' number 66 didn't win a single tackle or duel in the match and was fortunate to last until the 86th minute when he was replaced by Conor Bradley. Most people would have taken him off earlier with Bruno Fernandes and co running rings around him.

The Spanish media, who have so often reported on Alexander-Arnold over the last few months and suggested that Alexander-Arnold is the only player Real Madrid wants to sign at right-back, were far from impressed. MARCA said his "defensive passivity" cost Liverpool "dearly" while SPORT said he had a "very poor" defensive performance that negatively impacted his team.

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Arne Slot, though, was insistent that Alexander-Arnold was not distracted by the transfer talk. "Trent has played mostly very good games for the club," he said. "Today was not his best game but that had to do with [Manchester United] as well.

"Sometimes Ryan (Gravenberch) was not close enough to him so it was a two-on-one situation. I would put it more on the quality of (Diogo) Dalot and Bruno Fernandes."

Liverpool has Spurs in the Carabao Cup next before it hosts Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup. Alexander-Arnold played well at Tottenham recently and scored against West Ham United.

Liverpool.com says: Whether or not Alexander-Arnold was distracted is almost irrelevant. The perception will be that whenever he has a below-par game, his situation will be the reason why. That's exactly why it would be beneficial to reach a decision sooner rather than later so there is clarity. How likely that is to happen, though, remains to be seen.