Trent Alexander-Arnold walks through the tunnel at Anfield before Liverpool's game against Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold looks set to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid this summer
Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving Liverpool was always going to come out, the timing was never going to be perfect. Supporters want him to stay but it is what it is.
They must have expected repercussions, Trent and the people behind him. It’s understandable there has been backlash. I just hope it doesn’t creep into the dressing room and around the players and knock them off their focus when there is still a league title to be won. It was always going to happen, you just have to prepare yourself as a fan. It is what it is, we move on.
The football club has let him get into this position by not tying him down at a young age when he was 24 or 25. Is it neglect? Have they neglected that contract and now his head has been tempted by someone else?
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It just doesn’t make sense to let young players’ contracts whittle out. And Konate is the next one. They have to be attended, you can’t keep letting these players walk away for nothing.
I can understand them not accepting £20m for Trent in January because we needed him to help us go and get the league.
But having said that now, he might be out for the majority of the rest of the season. Hindsight’s a great thing. Now you look at it and think selling him in January would have been the better option.
It wasn’t at the time but the injury hasn’t helped. You think he’s going to play all of the games, help us win the league and have a go in Europe and the cups. Hopefully we can clinch the league without him, but the rest hasn’t happened.
There are not many bigger clubs than Liverpool in the world, but Real Madrid are because they’ve won the European Cup 15 times. We’ve won six, so we are the biggest club in Britain. But outside of that…and if Trent wants change…
Michael Owen and Steve McManaman left for different reasons. Steve’s contract was neglected. I think he should have been tied down. Michael’s situation was slightly different but the same thing applies.
I wouldn’t leave Liverpool for Real Madrid and loads of Liverpool fans who follow the club wouldn’t either. I was forced out of the club, I’ve said that before.
I wanted to stay but people are different. He’s been at the club a long time, does he want a change? Has he been left disillusioned by something? Does money come into it? Only Trent knows. Only his family and agents know.
We’ve just got to accept it. It’s not popular but it is what it is and you move on.
Bradley can replace Trent - but only on one condition
It’s going to cost to replace him but we’ve got Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez who can play that position. But as much as you’d have given Trent on a new five-year contract, it’ll cost you that just to buy another player.
Conor Bradley has been brilliant for us, he’s been such a great find. He gives you some different things which Trent doesn’t give you. But Trent offers you a greater maturity and attributes that Conor doesn’t give you too.
But Conor Bradley is perfectly capable of playing that position, providing he can stay injury-free. He’s only a young kid. That’s his problem at the moment, the injuries.
He’s a good replacement but then you still need cover. What happens? Is Joe Gomez going to stay as cover? He has to get over his injuries himself.
Ideally, if you’re looking at a left-back, then you’d like to get a utility player who can play both sides.