"This can't continue" - Carragher questions Liverpool fan favorite's long-term future

Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool need to sign a right-back to compete with Trent Alexander-Arnold after the defender once again faced a tough time against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Liverpool bowed out of the UEFA Champions League after a 6-2 humbling on aggregate by the reigning European champions, with Vinicius Jr giving TAA a run for his money in the second leg. Speaking to CBS Sports, as cited by Anfield Watch's Twitter account, Carragher urged Liverpool to go and buy someone who can provide cover and competition for the under-fire England international.

"This cannot continue, how many times this season he's been lacking defensively? They have no competition but Liverpool need to go and buy a right back.

"That lad needs serious competition. He's been playing for five years at the top level, and won everything. I'm so proud of him but he needs help and he needs a long think about where he is as a right back.

"We all know his defending is not good enough and I don't think it will ever be good enough. When you're one of the pack going for top four, you're doing more defending than attacking - you're seeing the worst traits of Trent, not his amazing attacking.

"If Liverpool are trying to qualify for the Champions League on a yearly basis, he is not your man. If Liverpool get back to one of the best teams in Europe, he is your man. He needs some help. Either working on defending a lot more or bringing another right back in.

"Some of those players, you think they are having such bad seasons - you think are they in decline and do you need to replace them?"

ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

Unfortunately, Carra is right. Trent is a world-class player on his day, but he needs a suitable understudy from next season as the fear of potentially losing his place in the starting XI would allow him to be on his toes. When Kostas Tsimikas joined the club, there was a marked improvement in Andy Robertson's performances - this is something Trent needs desperately.

Calvin Ramsey was drafted in as his understudy last summer, but the young defender has barely featured for the club this season and is out for the rest of the campaign with a long-term knee injury. The 19-year-old will be given a chance to impress in pre-season and fight for a spot in the first team, but if he isn't up to the mark, Liverpool would be best advised to sign another right-back to compete with Trent.