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Chris Sutton was left criticising Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold for his individual performance on Tuesday night on the Champions League stage.

The Reds were soundly beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid in the away leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

Mohamed Salah’s away goal gives Jurgen Klopp’s side something to work with in next week’s home leg at Anfield, but it’s going to take a much improved display to overcome the aggregate deficit.

Vinicius Junior dazzled with two goals, plus Marco Asensio was also on the scoresheet.

Sutton believes that Liverpool right-back Alexander-Arnold showed the real weakness in the defensive side of his game last night, as he was exposed by Madrid.

The 22-year-old helped gift Asensio his goal with a terrible headed pass backwards, and was extremely sloppy at times on the ball.

“Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive weaknesses were exposed by Real Madrid… after showing his best side against Arsenal, we saw in Spain exactly why Gareth Southgate dropped him for England,” Sutton told the Daily Mail.

“The 22-year-old was awesome offensively at the Emirates Stadium at the weekend and I love that side to him. On Tuesday, though, we saw the other side — the side to him that Gareth Southgate seemingly did not trust enough to have in his latest England squad.

“Southgate has so many great options in that area. There are others out there better than him in that department — others who might not have made the same mistakes he did on Tuesday.

“That second goal could be a killer for Liverpool in this competition, as he provided a very unfortunate assist for Marco Asensio with a mistimed header.”

TBR’s View:

Alexander-Arnold had a nightmare opening 45 minutes. It was similar though for the entire Liverpool XI, who came out an improved side in the second period Unfortunately, they may have blown the tie with that shocking first half.

Alexander-Arnold is under the spotlight now every time he steps onto the pitch.

Many are intrigued to see if he can force his way back into Gareth Southgate’s England squad in time for this summer’s European Championships, but performances like against Madrid won’t help his case.