Liverpool fans are grappling with the possibility of losing homegrown star Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, as the 26-year-old defender's contract enters its final three months. BBC Sport reported on Tuesday that negotiations for a potential deal with the Spanish giants are approaching completion.
Alexander-Arnold, who joined Liverpool's academy at just six years old and has spent his entire career with the club, has accumulated an impressive trophy cabinet including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup. The prospect of him leaving on a free transfer has triggered a wide range of reactions from the Liverpool faithful.
The online response has been particularly intense, with some fans resorting to editing his famous "I'm just a normal lad" quote and even photoshopping his mural near Anfield. Even his iconic quick corner that led to Liverpool's famous Champions League comeback against Barcelona in 2019 hasn't escaped revision, with multiple edits now showing other players setting up Divock Origi's winning goal instead.
Steve McManaman, who made a similar move from Liverpool to Real Madrid in 1999, told BBC Sport: "It's unfair. If Virgil van Dijk or Mohamed Salah leave then it's Liverpool's fault, if Trent were to leave then it's Trent's fault. His legacy, I hope, is one of an outstanding homegrown footballer who's done incredibly well for this club."
Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague suggests Alexander-Arnold's motivation stems from personal ambition: "He wants to aim to win the Ballon d'Or. I think he has reached the conclusion that to reach his potential he has to move abroad and leave his comfort zone. He wants to conquer the world and I find that admirable."
This season has been particularly unsettled for Alexander-Arnold, who unlike his teammates Van Dijk and Salah—also in the final months of their contracts—has deliberately avoided discussing his future publicly. The situation reached a boiling point in January when home fans targeted him during a subpar performance against Manchester United.
Liverpool supporter Abigail Rudkin expressed her sentiments on BBC Radio 5 Live: "As a Liverpool fan you're just devastated... but he has won everything there is to win at Liverpool. We are all living vicariously through Trent and now [it looks like] he has decided Madrid is the new dream. That's why we're all gutted."
Alexander-Arnold's performances this season have been inconsistent, adding another layer to the complex situation. Statistics highlight his contradictory impact: since 2017-18, no defender in Europe's top five leagues has made more assists or created more chances, and no player in any position has played more passes into the opposition box. However, no Premier League player this season has been dribbled past more times than Alexander-Arnold (53), and only Ipswich's Ben Johnson has a lower duel success rate among Premier League full-backs (46.6%).
The emergence of right-back Conor Bradley has softened the blow for some fans. The Northern Ireland international's passionate performances have already made him a fan favorite, suggesting he could potentially fill part of Alexander-Arnold's role both on the pitch and in the hearts of supporters.
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock defended Alexander-Arnold on social media: "I've seen comments like 'he should be ashamed' and he's 'not loyal to the club.' [They] are deluded. He's entitled to make his own choices and challenge himself in a different league and different country. He's won everything with LFC, been an incredible servant to the club and should be given a great send off by the fans."
The inevitable comparison to Steven Gerrard, another local talent who famously rejected opportunities to leave Liverpool, has intensified the criticism. A fan named Rory told BBC Sport: "It completely tarnishes his image. He was supposed to follow in Stevie's [Gerrard] footsteps and become the captain, a Liverpool icon. Instead, he's decided to pursue personal glory and made a mockery of his previous declarations of loyalty."
Another supporter, Richard, added: "What hurts the most is that he's run down his contract to go for free. A player that not all that long ago wanted to become club captain and now doesn't care that we won't even get a fee to help replace him."
Not all fans share these negative sentiments. Jonathan told BBC Sport: "Real represents something unique for English players, as so few have had that opportunity. Trent has been a brilliant servant for Liverpool, and playing for Real Madrid could help him develop into an even more amazing player."
Gary argued that the blame should lie elsewhere: "Surely Liverpool fans should be directing their ire at the owners and management who have allowed a homegrown player to get to the point where he can leave for nothing, rather than the player for accepting an offer from another club when Liverpool have done little to try to get him to stay?"
Others like Jed remain philosophical: "No player is bigger than the club. Liverpool have always managed to replace players without a lot of fuss."
Liverpool return to action against Everton in the Merseyside derby on April 2, though Alexander-Arnold is likely to miss out due to an ankle injury. If he does play again this season, all eyes will be on how the fans who have idolized him for the past nine years receive their homegrown hero as his potential departure looms.
