LIVERPOOL: Arne Slot said Trent Alexander-Arnold “deserves” to be part of Liverpool’s title celebrations despite revealing he was unhappy with the defender’s performances in training at the start of the season. The England international announced his decision to quit his boyhood club earlier this month and is widely expected to join Real Madrid. He was booed by Liverpool fans when he came on as a second-half substitute in last week’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Anfield and did not play in the 3-2 defeat at Brighton on Monday. Liverpool, who wrapped up the Premier League title last month with four games to spare, will be presented with the trophy after Sunday’s game against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. Slot was asked by reporters on Friday whether he had concerns that the celebrations would be overshadowed by an negative reaction to Alexander-Arnold. He said he had yet to make a decision on the extent of the right-back’s involvement. “I haven’t decided on that one yet but I think this should be a day that everybody is going to enjoy,” Slot said. “It’s been 35 years everybody is waiting for this moment.” Liverpool lifted the 2020 Premier League trophy behind closed doors due to Covid restrictions. Slot, in his first season at Anfield, said celebrations after Liverpool sealed the title against Tottenham were special. “I’m hoping that we can add a moment like this to it and I think everybody that’s in this stadium deserves to be there, the fans, the staff, but also the players,” he said. “One of my players is Trent so he definitely deserves to be there as well because he’s been part of an incredibly successful season and an incredibly successful (few) years at this club.”
