Trent Alexander-Arnold's true Liverpool feelings revealed as furious moment with referee spotted

Trent Alexander-Arnold engaged in a frank exchange of views with referee Michael Oliver before leaving the pitch at Anfield following Liverpool's 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Alexander-Arnold played the full 90 minutes for the first time this season but could not influence the match as he had thus far this season. That was despite even being moved further forward into midfield on the hour-mark by head coach Arne Slot.

After back-to-back player of the match performances for England during the international break, a return to Premier League action brought Alexander-Arnold back down to earth. That was encapsulated in the fourth minute of added time when receiving a yellow card through pure frustration.

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That perhaps played into the scenes following the full-time whistle when Alexander-Arnold and Oliver were deep in discussion on the Anfield pitch. Television cameras captured a lively conversation between the two, with the Liverpool man animated when making his point to the referee.

It remains unclear what exactly they were talking about, but neither backed down, with Oliver appearing to argue his case about Alexander-Arnold's complaints. The match was Oliver's first Liverpool match of the season. His last game featuring the Reds was the 1-1 draw with Manchester City in March, when he awarded the penalty through which Alexis Mac Allister equalised.

That was the fourth and final time Oliver officiated a Liverpool match last season. He was in the middle for the 4-1 away win at Brentford, the 0-0 draw at Anfield against Manchester United and the 3-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

This weekend's game was the first time Oliver refereed a match that Liverpool lost in almost two years, dating back to Leeds United's 2-1 win at Anfield during the 2022/23 season. That game was the third of three straight defeats he officiated to end 2022, also being there for the 3-2 defeat away at Arsenal and the 2-1 loss at Old Trafford.