‘Pressures imposed on a hometown player can be extreme… that could make Alexander-Arnold’s mind up’, says Deeney
THERE are several reasons why Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to leave Liverpool this summer.
Firstly, he has achieved pretty much everything he can at Anfield — and if he signs off with a Treble this season, then it will absolutely be a case of ‘job done’.
Trent Alexander-Arnold could leave Liverpool to Real Madrid to escape the added pressure of being a hometown hero[/caption]
Secondly, the lure of Real Madrid is a temptation that few players can ever resist. They are the greatest and most famous club in the world.
But there’s another reason that may play a part in his decision-making — and that is the pressures imposed on a hometown player which can be extreme.
I experienced that in a very different way when I joined Birmingham City, the club I had always supported.
I was 33 then, towards the end of my career and the club was a shambles at that point, so that’s very different to Trent on both levels.
But in an age in which the ‘local hero’ has become a rarity, the added pressures can be really trying.
When you play for your local club, everyone in the fanbase thinks they know you.
Everyone thinks you should care more than the rest of the players — and, in a way, you do.
Many supporters will have played Sunday league football against you as a kid, or gone to school with you, or they know someone in your family.
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Or they see you in Asda and want to give you advice, or want to know what’s going on.
When I was at Birmingham, my mum went to work and every day someone said to her, ‘Tell Troy, Blues should do this or that’ and she would reply, ‘I haven’t told him what to do since he was 15!’
And heaven help you if you went out locally on the Saturday night after a defeat, even to a low-key family do, without any alcohol.
That is sacrilege when you are playing for your own club.
For Trent, at a club the size of Liverpool, those issues will be amplified further.
Don’t get me wrong, playing for — and especially skippering — the club I support was one of the absolute highlights of my career.
It was right up there with reaching an FA Cup final and spending five years as a Premier League captain.
Leading the Blues out at St Andrew’s was the thing that most made the little boy inside my head say, ‘Wow, how did we get here? This is epic’.
It was an enormous privilege — but being the local lad does take a toll.
The best thing for Trent would be to parade the Premier League trophy at Anfield and then head off into the Spanish sun
Troy Deeney
That will be another factor for Trent, who has spent nine years as a first-teamer at Anfield and has been the highest-profile Scouser at the club for almost all of that time.
Weirdly, if or when, he signs for Real, he will have less pressure because he won’t be a megastar like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr or Jude Bellingham.
And he won’t be the local boy. He can just focus on being an excellent right-back.
Trent, who is out of contract this summer, has already been getting stick from supporters because he hasn’t signed a new deal — at a level which would not exist if he was not a Liverpool boy.
This is unfair to me — and as a player I struggled to fully understand it — but it’s a phenomenon that certainly exists.
Alexander-Arnold would not be the star man at Real Madrid[/caption]
Steven Gerrard felt the pressure as the local hero of Liverpool[/caption]
Steve McManaman is regarded as a hero at both Anfield and Real Madrid[/caption]
I don’t think the idea of achieving complete legendary status at a club is a factor among modern players, as it may have been in the past.
While Steven Gerrard achieved that at Anfield, he did once hand in a transfer request, wanting to join Chelsea, before signing a new deal with the Reds.
And Steve McManaman is a Liverpool lad who made the move to the Bernabeu and that didn’t damage his legacy on Merseyside, as he is considered a great at both clubs — having won two European Cups with the Spanish side.
I don’t think Trent’s move will be done this month, despite Real making an approach, as that wouldn’t really suit any of the parties.
Liverpool need him as they fight on four fronts, while Trent can go on a free at the end of the season, earning him a bigger signing-on fee.
‘DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD’
Real are making a move now to protect against any other big-money interest from Saudi Arabia.
Trent will stay fully committed to the club for the rest of the season, even if he is effectively working his notice at Anfield.
Every other player in that dressing room will understand that Trent — like Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk — is either keeping his options open or preferring another challenge elsewhere.
But being a hometown hero can be a double-edged sword.
The best thing for Trent would be to parade the Premier League trophy at Anfield — perhaps along with two or three more pieces of silverware — and then head off into the Spanish sun.
RUBEN TIME TO LOOK ‘N’ LEARN
IF Manchester United can avoid a six-goal defeat at Anfield tomorrow, that would be a decent effort.
That’s how bad things are at Old Trafford — and how good things are for runaway Prem leaders Liverpool right now.
Ruben Amorim faces his latest tough assignment as Manchester United boss when they face Liverpool[/caption]
I think it’s a blessing in disguise for Ruben Amorim that United are having such a bad run early in his reign.
He will learn so much about his players’ characters and their abilities and will be able to make proper judgments about who he wants going forward.
Had United got a few more decent results after winning the Manchester derby, it would have only papered over the cracks and made it more difficult for Amorim to make those decisions.
He is being very honest about the situation and I feel the club need to hit rock-bottom — which they are close to but haven’t yet.
United should flog Casemiro to Saudi Arabia and end the Marcus Rashford saga by letting him go this month, while bringing in two or three players to add the energy and desire Amorim needs.
But only after a full pre-season and a busy summer of ins and outs can we properly judge Amorim.
United have endured their fair share of hammerings by Liverpool recently[/caption]
Man Utd ratings vs Newcastle as Joshua Zirkzee is hooked after half an hour and Kobbie Mainoo the only bright spark
KOBBIE MAINOO’S performance was the only silver lining as Manchester United suffered a fourth consecutive defeat.
Newcastle struck twice in the opening 19 minutes as they threatened to tally up a cricket score at Old Trafford.
Joshua Zirkzee was ruthlessly subbed after half an hour after struggling in a No10 role – but there was no recovering for Ruben Amorim’s side.
Here is how SunSport’s Kealan Hughes rated the United display…
Andre Onana – 5
Little he could do about both goals and was barely tested other than that.
Noussair Mazraouri – 4
The first two goals came down his side as he failed to close down the crosses that were turned in by Isak and Joelinton.
But he was positive in possession and put in a few dangerous crosses.
Matthijs de Ligt – 5
Did not do much wrong for Newcastle goals but can be criticised for his failure to organise his defensive team-mates.
Harry Maguire – 4
Lost Isak for the opener as he was caught ball watching.
Almost made amends but his diving header cannoned back off the post.
Lisandro Martinez – 3
A complete mismatch as he attempted to battle Joelinton for a cross the Brazilian turned in.
Also lost Isak for the opener and even faced the wrong way as the cross came in.
Diogo Dalot – 5
Offered some much needed stability on the left flank and produced a good cross for Maguire’s headed chance.
Casemiro – 3
Dismal throughout. So far off the pace and barely made a pass.
Missed a guilt-edge chance to pull one back on the stroke of half-time.
Christian Eriksen – 4
Similarly inept in protecting his defence as Casemiro, as he was overran time and time again.
He did at least put a few passes together and improved after Mainoo came on.
Amad Diallo – 4
A tricky evening up against the hardworking Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall so was largely ineffective.
Joshua Zirkzee – 2
Nothing went his way and the fans quickly got on his back. He was hauled off in the 33rd minute and his substitution was greeted with cheers by the Old Trafford faithful.
Rasmus Hojlund – 5
Fed off scraps but did not stop running and was a rare bright spark – came very close with a low shot that whistled past the post in the first half.
Subs
Kobbie Mainoo (for Zirkzee) – 6
Turned things around after his introduction and made things happen with his accurate passing.
Set up Casemiro for a chance the Brazilian should have buried.
Leny Yoro (for Martinez, 64mins) – 6
Had a good chance from a corner but sent his free header wide.
Alejandro Garnacho (for Casemiro, 64mins) – 4
Struggled to make an impact as he failed to beat a man.
Antony (for De Ligt, 83 mins) – 5
Not enough time to influence the match.
