Liverpool sent 'impossible' Trent Alexander-Arnold claim after Steven Gerrard's verdict

Danny Murphy believes Liverpool are feeling the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold as he criticised Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley. The Reds' title defence has hit a wobble after suffering back-to-back defeats in the Premier League.

Following the dramatic loss away at Chelsea, the Real Madrid defender Alexander-Arnold has emerged back in the conversation as Liverpool's defensive frailties and attacking profligacy came back to haunt them. Alexander-Arnold was the linchpin for Liverpool's success and creativity from wide areas but since departing in the summer, it has been claimed that his loss is being dearly felt.

Jamie Redknapp and Gary Lineker both agreed on the point regarding the 27-year-old, citing that Arne Slot's side are weaker without his presence, which has impacted Mohamed Salah's output. Dominik Szoboszlai has played in the full-back position and shown his quality, in the absence of Frimpong and Bradley.

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However, the right-back pairing have endured a downturn in form, hampering the Reds. Bradley was sacrificed on Saturday after picking up a yellow card in the first-half following a tangle with Marc Cucurella.

Murphy pinpointed that Liverpool are feeling Alexander-Arnold's departure and his successors are yet to step up to the plate. "It’s impossible not to miss Trent’s passing and composure on the ball and passing ability," the former midfielder said.

"That’s what makes him unique. He has a wonderful football brain, which means whether he gets on the ball in the inverted role or at right back, he can see passes that most people can’t see, so you inevitably miss that.

"I actually think Frimpong started well and then he had a difficult evening against Atletico. I think Slot saw that and thought maybe I need Bradley or Szoboszlai but I think that’s a mistake.

"Sometimes players need to just get a bad game out of their system and move onto the next game by playing. I think Frimpong needs to get back in and keep improving.

"With Conor Bradley he’s a young talent and he missed most of pre-season. So, he’s getting fit on the job which isn’t easy to do at Liverpool and the level they are at. I’ve got no concerns about him either."

Alexander-Arnold could be in line to make an immediate return to Anfield when Real Madrid face Liverpool in the Champions League on November 4.It will be the first time that he will take on his former club after his unceremonious exit, last summer.

Murphy's comments come after iconic Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard broke his silence on the high-profile exit by the former Reds vice-captain in the summer. The Champions League winner offered his honest assessment of the situation and understood the move from one point of view, but questioned it from a Liverpool perspective.

He said, speaking on Rio Presents: “If I take my Liverpool hat off, I think any player in the game when Barcelona and Real Madrid come, it's going to turn your head.

"This is me speaking without my Liverpool hat on at the moment. Real Madrid came for me with [Jose] Mourinho, serious. And it turned my head.

"It didn't get as much traction and noise as Chelsea because it was shut down pretty quick because of the timing of it and what Real Madrid wanted me to do to manufacture that. So it never got the traction or the noise, but it turned my head. It turned my head, for sure. It's Real Madrid. So without my Liverpool hat on, Real Madrid and Barcelona, whether you like it or not, if you're a United fan, Liverpool fan, they're two humongous clubs.

"And when they come, it's going to turn your head. No matter who you are, it's going to turn your head. Or you're not. You're not human. They're going to turn your head.

"So I can understand it from being in Trent's shoes. I can understand it. I get it. His best mate plays there. Maybe he wants to challenge himself. He's won everything at Liverpool. So there's a part of me that really understands it.

"So it never got the traction or the noise, but it turned my head. It turned my head, for sure. It's Real Madrid. So without my Liverpool hat on, Real Madrid and Barcelona, whether you like it or not, if you're a United fan, Liverpool fan, they're two humongous clubs.

"And when they come, it's going to turn your head. No matter who you are, it's going to turn your head. Or you're not. You're not human. They're going to turn your head.

"So I can understand it from being in Trent's shoes. I can understand it. I get it. His best mate plays there. Maybe he wants to challenge himself. He's won everything at Liverpool. So there's a part of me that really understands it.

"But as soon as I put my Liverpool hat back on, I think, what are you doing? What are you doing? You're arguably one of the best teams in Europe. You're winning things that I sit here now and still dream of winning.

"You're winning European Cups. You're one of the main men. The fans adore you. What are you doing? But this is with my Liverpool hat on, because I love Liverpool football club. So…"

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