Liverpool manager Arne Slot turns on Trent Alexander-Arnold in his final days as his boss as he accuses him of 'not doing enough' in training before transfer to Real Madrid

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has fired criticism at Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of the defender's final game for Liverpool.

The academy graduate will depart the Reds after 20 years at the club at the end of the season, and is expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer in a move that has left a number of Reds fans enraged.

While one fan was seen burning a shirt with the vice-captain's name on once he announced the news, a number of other Reds supporters booed loudly when Alexander-Arnold was introduced as a substitute against Arsenal earlier this month.

Since, he remained on the bench against Brighton last week, and it remains unclear what role he will have to play in his final game as a Liverpool player this weekend before he leaves for Madrid.

The booing triggered a sour end to what had been a relatable relationship between the player and his side's fans, which now appears to have turned, with a number of other Liverpool players calling for supporters not to boo him.

Now, though, his own manager has changed his tune, declaring that Alexander-Arnold has struggled in training and needs to up his game defensively.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has turned on Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of his Reds departure

Alexander-Arnold will be involved in his last game for Liverpool on the final day of the Premier League season this weekend

Slot criticised the defender's training standards and suggested he is giving Real Madrid - and Xabi Alonso - a 'gift'

'He's going to leave anyway so why not, it might be the first gift I can give Xabi Alonso,' Slot said of the 26-year-old. 'I wasn't completely happy with every single minute he was on the training ground.

'In my opinion there were certain moments he could do more, to put it mildly. I told him he's a much better defender than people think, but you don't show it all the time.'

Slot - who also said he had not decided if the defender will play against Palace - was present at Alexander-Arnold's 'Summer of 66' leaving party last week, having arrived back from Ibiza following a few days on partying on the back of his side winning the Premier League.

Liverpool have generally supported their player, with Mohamed Salah telling Gary Neville that 'the fans were being harsh with him' and 'he didn't deserve it'.

Dominik Szoboszlai, meanwhile, was among the players to question the home fans on the pitch after Alexander-Arnold received a hostile reception against Arsenal.

The England star is known as one of the best passers in world football, often stepping into midfield for Liverpool, and is set to be confirmed as a Real Madrid player in due course.

There, he will join up with international team-mate and best friend Jude Bellingham, but it still remains to be seen if he will go with the best wishes of Reds supporters this weekend.

While his attacking talent is undoubted, his defensive play is something that at times has been called into question - something that Slot has now backed up as well.

Alexander-Arnold had a 'Summer of 66' leaving party as he prepares to depart Liverpool

Title-winning manager Slot was snapped at the party after returning from a holiday in Ibiza

Slot previously said of the situation: 'I think it's difficult for him, because he said himself how difficult it was and that is important for us to hear as well because we have to make it as difficult as possible.

'It is the way you want to look at it, but maybe he's pleasantly surprised by the reaction. There were mixed reactions, so it wasn't all negative, and, as it went on, everybody was cheering for him to score.

'I'm not sure if he has negative feelings. It's not even that negative.'

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