Alexander-Arnold strike saves Liverpool's blushes

He may soon be the Scouser in the Real Madrid team but Trent Alexander-Arnold is ever likelier to leave Liverpool a Premier League champion.

- RICHARD JOLLY

A winner at Leicester could prove his last goal, his final great contribution in a Liverpool shirt, but while he might soon discard it for the white of Real, here it was removed for a topless celebration that indicated his enduring love for his hometown club.

It felt mutual. After the accusations of disloyalty from a section of the fanbase, he was serenaded by the match-going public at the end. “Special moments that will live with me forever,” he said.

Forever may take him further afield. Unlike Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, he has not committed his future to the club, but Arne Slot said: “The headline today should be the goal he scored and not about his contract, but it would be ridiculous if someone argues his commitment to this club.”

Not for the first time, it was proved. A goal six minutes after his introduction leaves Liverpool requiring just three points to seal the title. If this had promised to be their coronation, Arsenal’s earlier demolition of Ipswich prevented the possibility.

It was instead a burial, though Alexander-Arnold did not relegate Leicester; even at 0-0, they were going down. They had showed more life on the day their demise was finalised. The damage was already done. “I expected to get more points than I was able to from the games I was able to lead,” said Ruud van Nistelrooy, but his meagre tally is of eight in 20 games.