Arne Slot appears to respond to Jamie Carragher's controversial Ballon d'Or claim amid Trent Alexander-Arnold saga

Arne Slot appeared to issue a response to Jamie Carragher claiming a Liverpool player cannot win the Ballon d'Or.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's future has dominated the transfer rumour mills, with Real Madrid thought to be his next destination.

He has yet to sign a new Liverpool deal, having outlined his Ballon d'Or ambitions.

Carragher has been vocal amid the Alexander-Arnold transfer saga and gave his thoughts on the 26-year-old's Ballon d'Or aspirations.

"You can try and win the Ballon d'Or, but my first thought when I read that was you're not winning the Ballon d'Or as a right-back for Liverpool. Ballon d'Or winners normally play for Real Madrid or Barcelona, that's where the best players in the world go," he said on Sky Sports.

Ahead of Liverpool's FA Cup tie against Accrington Stanley, Slot was asked about 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who makes his first Liverpool appearance following his transfer from Chelsea.

On Ngumoha, he told ITV: "It's always special when young players make their debuts. He's a young kid still and I hope he has the chance to show his qualities."

Ngumoha is projected to enjoy a glittering career and, like Alexander-Arnold, has set his sights on winning the Ballon d'Or.

Trent Alexander-Arnold aims to win the Ballon d'Or in his career. Image: Getty

Pressed on Ngumoha's Ballon d'Or claim, Slot replied: "He's at a club where players can win the Ballon d'Or."

His comment suggests he disagrees with Carragher's notion that Liverpool players cannot win the Ballon d'Or.

Ngumoha, meanwhile, becomes the youngster ever player to represent Liverpool in the FA Cup.

During an appearance on Inside the Academy, he said: "I truly believe I can win the Ballon d'Or one day.

"I want to be regarded as one of the best players to ever play football and be a legend of the game.

"The love for football started when I was four or five."