Angry Reds fans vent at Trent for ‘cowering’

LIVERPOOL fans turned on Trent Alexander-Arnold who was accused by one pundit of ‘cowering’ as Aleksandar Mitrovic powered in Fulham’s opener in yesterday’s 2-2 draw.

Mitrovic towered over Alexander-Arnold to head in from Kenny Tete’s inviting cross and the England right-back got little sympathy for his role in the goal.

‘Trent just couldn’t deal with it,’ said Peter Crouch on BT Sport. ‘He’s got to be stronger. As you jump, you can barge him (Mitrovic) or put him off defensively, even hold on to him. You need to have more strength there.’

Ex-Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said: ‘He didn’t jump. Trent needs to be up in the air sooner. He has to try and put Mitrovic off coming.’

There was even more stinging criticism from former Middlesbrough midfielder Robbie Mustoe, who raged on NBC: ‘He’s cowering. He’s not facing the play and he’s not aware what is behind him.’

Alexander-Arnold’s attacking threat is a key part of Liverpool’s armory. He had 12 assists in the Premier League last season and scored in last Saturday’s Community Shield win against Manchester City. But his defensive work has often come under scrutiny.

Liverpool fans were in no mood to forgive him. ‘Trent at the back stick will always be a liability,’ said one on social media. Another branded his defending ‘woeful’.