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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Hannah Pinnock

'No offence' - Frank Leboeuf makes 'crazy' claim about Trent Alexander-Arnold after Liverpool draw

Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has criticised Trent Alexander-Arnold's role in Aleksandar Mitrovic's opening goal against Liverpool in Saturday's 2-2 draw.

It wasn't the start to the Premier League season Jurgen Klopp would have hoped for as his Reds side twice came from behind to only draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage. Mitrovic broke the deadlock before he later scored from the penalty spot to put his newly promoted team back in front.

Goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah ensured Liverpool returned to Merseyside with at least a point, but there has already been some criticism of their back line. Not least Alexander-Arnold after Mitrovic towered over him to head home Fulham's first goal of the afternoon.

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Leboeuf, who won the 1998 World Cup with France, told ESPN : “Well I think we have to make a statement. Alexander-Arnold is absolutely fantastic when he has the ball and he’s really poor when he has to defend. That’s what it is and it’s no offence to say that.

"In this matter it was very easy, he just had to make Mitrovic break a little bit, to delay his run and he would never have gotten to the ball. He knows Mitrovic is behind him and put his body downwards to allow the header.

"That's crazy, it makes no sense to me. Maybe he's the only one who can explain what he wanted to do in that matter."

Liverpool are next in action on Monday, August 15 as they welcome Crystal Palace to Anfield. Manager Klopp will hope his side can bounce back and secure all three points as they look to keep the pace with their rivals.

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