Richard Keyes has urged Liverpool to sell ‘bombshell’ Trent in January.

Richard Keyes has urged Liverpool to be ruthless when deciding a player’s future and not make ‘sentimental’ choices about his contract.

It’s been an eventful start to the year for Trent Alexander-Arnold. £20 million bid failed Despite Real Madrid approaching him earlier last week about a pre-contract deal to join him on a free transfer in the summer.

On the pitch, Manchester United’s vice-captain put in a nightmare performance in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United and was accused of being a ‘student’ in defense by Roy Keane on Sky Sports.

Height rips apart the ‘ordinary’ trend.

Even the Irishman’s unpleasant verdict was surpassed by Keys. Keys didn’t spare Trent in her latest post. A blog named after him.

The beIN SPORTS anchor wrote: “As for TAA. There’s not much more to say, right? His performance proved that Liverpool should take Madrid’s £20m and put an end to the on-and-off transfer saga surrounding him. Obviously he will leave. So raise the issue head on.

“Pay no attention to the sentimental and misguided nonsense spewed out by Liverpool pundits who should know better. Close the deal. Trust me. Liverpool’s season doesn’t depend on whether their mediocre ‘defender’ stays or goes.

“I’m not saying he’s not a good player. I just think his skills are better suited to Madrid. Defense is not his strength. And the debate is distracting.

“One other thing. What has he been doing in Venice between Liverpool’s last two games? James Maddison has come under fire for attending an event in north London from his home in north London on a day off. Why didn’t TAA have any questions to answer?”

Trent is nothing like ‘ordinary’.

Trent? Bang normal? Come on, Richard! We know you didn’t call him a bad player, but yet…

Numerous critics of the 26-year-old’s defensive prowess will have had a field day over the weekend, and even his most ardent supporters will have to admit he was off the pace in one of the biggest games of the season.

Gary Neville questioned whether ongoing transfer speculation had a detrimental effect on the right-back’s performance yesterday. Perhaps so, but the England international has been outstanding for most of recent months and rumors of a move to Real Madrid did not sprout overnight.

Liverpool would be absolutely foolish to accept £20 million for a player of Trent’s enormous caliber in the middle of a season when both Premier League and Champions League glory looks close.

One substandard display doesn’t make him a liability for the Reds. Despite what Keys claims, Richard Hughes will have to do his best to convince the vice-captain to renew his commitment to his boyhood club.

Let’s hope that happens soon so all the background noise about the 26-year-old’s future can finally be put aside for good and all focus can be put on what he does on the pitch.