Hendrick: Slot says Trent can defend but “just chooses not to” | OneFootball

Hendrick Calls Out Trent as Slot Ushers in New Era at Liverpool

In a bracing episode of Daily Red for Anfield Index, Dave Hendrick held nothing back as he tackled Liverpool’s present and future under new manager Arne Slot. With the Premier League title freshly secured, Hendrick turned his sharp attention to Trent Alexander-Arnold, questioning the right-back’s commitment and painting a blunt picture of how things may look as the club enters a new chapter.

Slot Takes No Prisoners with Trent Alexander-Arnold

Hendrick wasted no time addressing what he sees as a key concern: Trent’s defensive work rate. Reflecting on Arne Slot’s recent comments, he remarked: “He said there were moments in training that he wasn’t happy with, that his effort defensively isn’t good enough and that he can defend – he just basically chooses not to.”

The tone was unrelenting. Hendrick added: “Trent’s not our problem anymore. He can go and do whatever he wants with Real Madrid.” That notion—of Liverpool potentially moving on from Alexander-Arnold—may be jarring for supporters, but Hendrick’s analysis is firmly rooted in a demand for higher standards under the new regime.

“Jurgen was far too much of a coddler when it came to these lads,” Hendrick said, referring to Jürgen Klopp, before noting: “Some of them needed a much harder line than he was willing to take. Especially Trent.”

Real Madrid Reality Check

Should Alexander-Arnold indeed head to Real Madrid, Hendrick issued a stark warning about fan expectations in the Spanish capital: “I look forward to the first time he actively decides not to defend in a Real Madrid shirt – that will go down so badly with those fans.”

He emphasised that Madridistas have little patience for perceived laziness: “They don’t care that you’re a great player… they care about winning. And to win at the level they want to win at, comfort is very, very important, especially defensively.”

In contrast, Hendrick held up Madrid stalwart Dani Carvajal as a model of what fans there expect: “There’s no fanciness about him… it is graft, graft and graft some more—and they love it.”

Photo: IMAGO

Slot’s Philosophy Already Taking Shape

It’s clear Hendrick approves of Slot’s direct approach: “Arne’s got no f**s left to give. He is just saying what he wants to say.”* While his delivery is colourful, the message is unambiguous: Slot is shifting standards at Liverpool.

Perhaps most significantly, Hendrick praised Slot for calling out underperformance rather than excusing it: “Excuses are for managers that didn’t win the league.” It’s a tone that signals change, and one that Hendrick believes is long overdue.

Slot’s prioritisation of effort and intensity is, for Hendrick, non-negotiable. As he put it: “Effort is the number one demand. And it’s the number one area where Trent falls down.”

Forward Thinking at Anfield

Beyond Trent, Hendrick hinted at further squad evolution, including the likely departure of Joe Gomez: “It kind of made me think he’s going to go. I’ve thought that for a while.” He suggested that Gomez’s exit may be necessary to maintain balance and avoid selling key emerging talents like Jarrell Quansah.

As Liverpool prepare for their next chapter under Arne Slot, Hendrick’s no-nonsense breakdown acts as a bracing counterpoint to the usual sentimentality. He is demanding, direct, and ultimately in tune with a fanbase that expects more—especially after reaching the pinnacle.