Former Liverpool defender believes people should 'back off' on criticism of Liverpool defender

Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has called for people to 'back off' with their criticism of the current Liverpool defender.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has come under fire this season for his poor defensive displays and the backlash from fans and pundits has been strong, to say the least.

Johnson knows better than anyone what it's like to play right-back for Liverpool and England and he's called for people to lay off the 23-year-old defender.

Given what Alexander-Arnold has achieved already in his career, then it's fair to say Johnson has a point but his form has been way below the level we're used to like most of the Liverpool side.

Glen Johnson on Alexander-Arnold

Johnson was speaking at an LFC Foundation-SC Johnson Goals for Change partnership event at Anfield and was quick to defend Alexander-Arnold.

“I personally think people should back off. He set the bar so high in recent years that people are just too quick to jump on his back just because he is not at the level we are used to seeing him.”

“He set the bar so high in recent years that people are just too quick to jump on his back just because he is not at the level we are used to seeing him.”

“We all know he is better going forward then defending but there is nothing wrong with that; every player is better at one thing than something else.“

Form is temporary, class is permanent?

He continued on to claim that he will eventually return to his top form, but no player is immune from bad patches.

“I think it is a bit harsh. Of course, he hasn’t been playing to the level we are used to seeing but you don’t lose your ability overnight. He is still world-class.“

“He is still a young lad and once he gets going and gets a bit more confident I am sure he will reach the heights he has been at in the past.”

“Every player goes up and down in form and Trent no more than anyone else wants to get back to his heights.“

Once Liverpool begin to click, so will he and the rest of the game will surely rediscover their levels - they're simply too good not to.