Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has come to the defense of Trent Alexander-Arnold after a lackluster performance against Manchester United, dismissing claims that Real Madrid’s interest has negatively affected his teammate.

In the recent 2-2 draw at Anfield, Alexander-Arnold was responsible for Lisandro Martinez’s opening goal, falling short of his usual high standards. The right-back’s subpar display has sparked ongoing discussions about his future, especially with his contract expiring at the end of the season, allowing him to negotiate a pre-contract with foreign clubs. Reports suggest that Real Madrid has made an offer for him, which Liverpool is said to have turned down.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has defended Trent Alexander-Arnold after his poor display against Manchester United, rejecting suggestions that Real Madrid’s interest has had a ɳҽgative impact on his teammate

After the match, former United captain Roy Keane criticized Alexander-Arnold’s performance, saying, “There’s talk about him going to Real Madrid—at the rate he’s defending, he’ll be heading to Tranmere Rovers instead. He needs to do better.” Keane pointed out that while Trent excels offensively, his defending was alarmingly poor. Tranmere Rovers humorously responded to Keane’s comment by posting on X, featuring their own full-back with a playful message about not needing Alexander-Arnold.

Gary Neville, a former United right-back, speculated that the rumors surrounding Alexander-Arnold’s future might have been a distraction. “The reported bid from Real Madrid comes at a bad time for him,” he explained. “It could have unsettled him. Real Madrid is such a formidable club. There are three possible reasons for his performance: he’s had off days before, he just had a bad game, or the speculation affected his mindset. His passing and forward play were the worst I’ve seen.”

Liverpool hopeful of persuading Alexander-Arnold to extend his contract, but he could leave for free at the end of the season. Van Dijk, who also faces an expiring contract, believes his teammate can handle the pressure as Liverpool competes for the quadruple.

As Liverpool prepares to face Tottenham in London for the first leg of their League Cup semi-final on Wednesday, Van Dijk said, “I’m comfortable with it. Trent has his support system around him, including family and us. He aims to perform at his best, just like everyone else. That’s the main focus. In my view, if there’s a distraction, it’s the game itself.”