Trent Alexander-Arnold's understudy Conor Bradley took all the praise this week in a famous Champions League win as his contract continues to approach its end at Anfield
Sport
Updated 16:46, 30 Nov 2024
Trent Alexander-Arnold before a Liverpool game
Trent Alexander-Arnold's contract at Liverpool runs out at the end of the season
(Image: Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold was called up for Liverpool's famous Champions League win against Real Madrid this week - but it was his understudy, Conor Bradley, who ended up taking all of the plaudits for keeping Kylian Mbappe on his toes. Liverpool Echo readers in our comments section have been having their say on the right-back's continued contract standoff.
Alexander-Arnold's contract comes to an end this summer, and he will be able to speak with clubs about a free transfer from January 2025. Liverpool risk losing three of the pillars of the Jurgen Klopp era for nothing - both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are in the same boat.
Of the three, only Trent has yet to come forward and publicly say that he wants to stay at Anfield. Real could be his next destination, though they were denied a good look at him on Wednesday with Bradley performing admirably in his place.
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Reader NigelRG wouldn't put Alexander-Arnold's contract talks at the top of the pile: “Trent's talent is unique, but limited. Given free reign, as he was under Klopp, he attacked most of the time. He's not the fastest, but he produced breathtaking pin-point aerial passes. I'm not sure the inverted full-back experiment worked out - he was better along the wing.
"Slot has obviously told him to stay back more, and he's been a surprisingly good defender. However, we don't see so many of his key passes. I find him very difficult to rate. He's not the best right back in the world, as Klopp called him, but his special talent is unique. There is no other similar player. But would I prioritize his signing over Mo and VVD? No - we have Bradley and Gomez who are better defenders, if nothing else. Mo is almost irreplaceable. VVD would be very difficult and probably very expensive to replace.”
Commenter Kasper74 writes: “C'mon folks! Losing a homegrown, world class player like TAA would definitely be a horrible loss. How quickly fans forget what he has done, and what he could still do at the young age of 26. Conor is fantastic but isn't near TAA level YET! Let's not push away our own out of negativity...”
Awal thinks that a move to Real would be a mistake: “Can’t see why Trent would go to a team that we can beat, and while they have more cups than us, doesn't mean they are better than us. I believe that if he does move then he will regret it, like a lot of other players have found out before him. Coutinho as an example.”
ScouseIan agrees: “I can't believe he wants to leave his boyhood club for nothing and give his best years to a Spanish club in a weak league. Doesn't he look at the countless others who left our club thinking the grass is greener elsewhere, only to have their careers ruined?”
MahadzirManaf thinks that it wouldn't be the end of the world: “No one player is bigger than the club. I've seen top Liverpool players leave the club like Kevin Keegan, Ian Rush, Steve McManaman etc. But Bob Paisley managed to find replacements & I believe Arne Slot can do the same. I don't really care if any of the Liverpool players wanted to leave.”
Georgeformby says: “After Bradley's performance the other night, Trent wont be missed if he goes.” Ramon23 disagrees: “One game, mate. If he goes, it should never have come to losing him potentially for nothing.”
Have your say! Does Trent Alexander-Arnold still have a part to play in Arne Slot's Liverpool? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.