Former Liverpool defender says he expected the local lad to stay and help Liverpool dominate world football
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has voiced his disappointment over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave the club at the end of the season.
Alexander-Arnold, who has been a constant presence in the Liverpool starting 11 for nine years, was part of the Jurgen Klopp team who won everything both in Europe and in England, before securing the club’s 20th Premier League title this season under Arne Slot. The right-back confirmed on Monday that he would be leaving the club he joined when he was six years old, with Real Madrid the likely destination.
Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, said that while he’s not angry, he’s saddened to see a local player depart when Liverpool is close to something special.
“Local players are held in a higher regard in different ways because they’re local players,” said the former Liverpool defender. “Supporters maybe expect a bit more of them in these situations.
“It’s Trent’s career, he’s free to choose what he wants to do, and he’s going to the biggest club in the world.
“I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed that as a local player, he doesn’t think Liverpool are close enough to winning.
“We’ve had players in the past who left, such as Steve McManaman and Michael Owen. Steven Gerrard almost left. But that’s because they were playing for Liverpool teams that weren’t as good as this Liverpool team.
“This Liverpool team are one of the best five or six teams in Europe and could be on the verge of something special over the next five or six years under this manager.
“If I was a local player in that position, where I thought I could go win league titles, and put Liverpool above Manchester United for league titles, and get closer to Real Madrid, I would stay.
“People talk about rivalry in England, clubs that you can’t go to. Real Madrid are a rival of Liverpool in the European Cup.
Despite the disappointment, Carragher acknowledged that Real Madrid are an attractive club, and that he’s proud that a boy from Liverpool is rising to the biggest stage in world football.
“Real Madrid are the biggest club in the world, and there’s part of me that looks at a kid from West Derby going to play for the biggest club in the world, it’s amazing.
“But there’s just disappointment because Liverpool could be on the verge of domination and that’s not enough for him.”
