-Credit:Getty Images
Jamie Carragher laid out the main reasons why he would be disappointed to see Trent Alexander-Arnold leave Liverpool this summer.
The right-back’s contract expires at the end of the season and he was the subject of a bid from Real Madrid last week, as speculation continues to mount that he will join Los Blancos in the summer. That spotlight seemed to affect him on Sunday as Alexander-Arnold put in a woeful display at Anfield against Manchester United.
He was roundly criticized during the post-match analysis, with Carragher among the most vocal detractors. The ex-defender claimed Alexander-Arnold’s afternoon ‘couldn’t have gone much worse’, said Arne Slot should have replaced him earlier and also insinuated the player knew of Real’s bid last week.
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While Carragher has said he can understand the appeal of a move to the Bernabeu, the 46-year-old was also clear on the unique achievements Alexander-Arnold could reach if he remains on Merseyside, which, in his eyes, should make the England international think twice about leaving.
“When Michael Owen and Steve McManaman left, Liverpool weren’t a top team,” Carragher said during Sky Sports’ post-match coverage. “So, they were thinking they were going to the best team in the world.
“As a local player, the disappointment for me is, Trent is a local player and a Liverpool fan. Liverpool this season are on the verge of going level with Man United on league titles and maybe winning another European Cup.
“He could be the captain in two or three years’ time and the person lifting these trophies. He will maybe be thinking differently but if I was in his position, that’d be my mentality.
Jamie Carragher was among those who criticised Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance against Manchester United. -Credit:Getty Images
“Liverpool supporters are disappointed, that’s where my disappointment comes from,” he added. “If I was in his position that would be my mentality, ‘I can put Liverpool in a position where we could win league titles’.
“When I’m talking about Trent, I’m disappointed with the Real Madrid stuff coming out and that being the focus before a big game, because the most important thing is Liverpool winning the game.”
Alexander-Arnold could be afforded a rest from the team in the next two games. Matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Accrington Stanley in the cup competitions afford Slot the perfect chance to rest the defender, while the return of Conor Bradley is an added boost.
Meanwhile, reports in the Mirror last week claimed Liverpool has offered Alexander-Arnold a contract extension worth $98m (£78m/€94m) over five years, the maximum the club feels it can afford to pay in wages.