Trent Alexander-Arnold could be in hot water with the Football Association after admitting he deliberately celebrated his goal against Manchester City at the weekend in front of irate home supporters.
The Liverpool vice-captain, 25, was on target in the 80th minute to cancel out Erling Haaland's 50th Premier League goal for the champions and earn the Reds a share of the spoils at the Etihad Stadium. He celebrated the strike by putting a finger to his lips in front of the home supporters before jogging back to restart the game.
Speaking post-match, Alexander-Arnold admitted that he enjoyed the reaction from the City fans, who would later lash out at him on social media. He said: “It's always good to celebrate in front of away fans. Seeing all of the faces is really funny.”
While players are usually booked for goading opposition fans, referee Chris Kavanagh took no action against Alexander-Arnold on the day and, as such, may make no mention of it in his post-match report. However, it would still be possible for the FA to intervene.
The IFAB's Law 12 states that a player “must be cautioned” for “gesturing or acting in a provocative, derisory or inflammatory way”. While the FA could choose to act after Alexander-Arnold escaped a booking for his mischievous celebration, it's likely he would only be warned about his future conduct.
Alexander-Arnold was the Liverpool hero with his dramatic late intervention but he endured a difficult afternoon against Jeremy Doku, who was at his dazzling best for Manchester City. The champions also restricted Alexander-Arnold from driving forward into midfield, too.
Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrated his goal at the weekend by putting a finger to his lips in front of Manchester City supporters
The Anfield favourite, who has been adapting to a new hybrid role which gives him a license to drift in-field this season, added: “I think there was potentially a game plan to stop me from getting the ball in midfield, at least that's what it felt like, especially in the first half. A lot of man-marking - Bernardo [Silva] was really close to me.
“It was about trying to get the ball in different ways, trying to pass the ball wider, get on the ball as much as possible. It was not really a game for penetration through the middle, it was more round the side.”
The draw means Liverpool are now third in the table, a point behind second-placed Manchester City and two points behind league leaders Arsenal.
