Trent Alexander-Arnold’s career at Liverpool looks to be coming to an end.
The full-back is out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season and it looks like the 26-year-old is not going to put pen to paper on a new deal as Real Madrid are closing in on Alexander-Arnold, with the La Liga champions hoping to finalise a deal for the Englishman soon.
Real Madrid have pursued Alexander-Arnold for some time and there has been a lot of debate around the full-back’s future at Liverpool in the build-up to Tuesday’s breaking news that the England international will leave the Premier League leaders.
Jamie Carragher has been vocal on his opinions about Alexander-Arnold and stated on Sky Sports back in January: “It’s about his legacy at Liverpool and how he is seen. Do you want to be seen like [Steven] Gerrard or [Steve] McManaman?
“He went to Real Madrid and won cups, but he is not adored. As a local player, Trent has been there for 20 years. I don’t think it would be nice to have a feeling of leaving on a free. I guarantee Liverpool supporters will feel that way.
“Things are expected of you as a local player. I think to leave Liverpool is difficult as a local player. I wanted to leave in the right way, so they remembered me in the right way. If he stays, he will be remembered as one of the best to play for the club and not far behind Gerrard.”
Remembering these comments, Gabby Agbonlahor has now hit out at Carragher for the influence he had on recent events.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
In the aftermath of the Alexander-Arnold news on Tuesday, many Liverpool fans were not happy and began to vent their frustration at the full-back for leaving the Merseyside club on a free transfer this summer.
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Speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor believes Carragher’s comments back in January influenced the reaction of Reds supporters and called the Sky Sports pundit out for it.
“I think as well, Jamie Carragher. When he was on Sky recently, when he was talking about it, I didn’t like it, because he sort of had the influence on Liverpool fans,” Agbonlahor said.
“He was saying similar, like, you know, ‘you should have come out and said you were going to go to Real Madrid, you’re leaving on a free, not for a transfer fee’.
“Let Trent decide his own future, just because he’s born and bred in Liverpool, been there since he was six years old.
“Does it mean that he has to stay there for the rest of his career. He’s completely the game there. Let him go to Madrid, and do it in a different country, different league, and when he retires, Jeff, he will look back and say ‘best decision I have made’.
“I’m sure Liverpool fans will forgive him over time. He’ll go down as a Liverpool legend, one of the best full-backs to have played in the Premier League.”
Liverpool identify Trent Alexander-Arnold replacements
The criticism of Alexander-Arnold has been extremely unfair after what he has done for Liverpool, but everyone needs to move on now.
Alexander-Arnold will face problems at Real Madrid, but Liverpool will also have major issues in trying to replace the 26-year-old as the full-back is a unique talent.
Conor Bradley is the most likely option to take over at right-back at Anfield next season and Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina might be a good option to back the youngster up.
Feyenoord’s Givairo Read has also been identified by Liverpool as a potential long-term successor to Alexander-Arnold.
While Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is admired by Arne Slot and would be a very exciting addition to the Dutch coach’s squad.
Liverpool have options; however, no matter who they bring in during the summer, that player will struggle to match what Alexander-Arnold did on Merseyside in recent years.