SPORTING

‎It’s official: Trent Alexander-Arnold is leaving Liverpool. The Anfield academy graduate, long seen as the spiritual successor to Steven Gerrard, will depart his boyhood club at the end of the season—on a free transfer. His likely destination? Real Madrid. His goal? The Ballon d’Or. ‎ ‎' Trent Alexander-Arnold. ' ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎ ‎For many Liverpool fans, this was the inevitable conclusion to a saga years in the making. There had been warning signs—particularly Alexander-Arnold’s 2023 interview with Sky Sports where he claimed winning the Ballon d'Or was more important to him than captaining Liverpool or lifting more trophies. “Don’t play the game, change the game,” he said. It was a line that didn’t just hint at ambition, but a shift in his sense of identity. ‎ ‎This wasn’t just a right-back chasing greatness anymore; it was a player willing to sacrifice legacy for the possibility—however remote—of individual glory. ‎ ‎A Dream Derailed ‎ ‎Alexander-Arnol...

‎Despite sitting 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League under new manager Arne Slot, Liverpool finds itself in a period of uncertainty, with several key players' futures at Anfield hanging in the balance. As the international break ends and league play resumes, the club is grappling with the impending free transfers of star players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is reportedly on the verge of a move to Real Madrid. ‎ ‎Liverpool's 2025 squad decisions: Who should stay and who should go? ‎ Getty Images ‎ ‎The frustration among Liverpool fans has been palpable, with many questioning the club's management for allowing Alexander-Arnold to enter the final months of his contract, effectively losing a multi-million-pound asset for nothing. He isn't the only key player in a similar situation, as both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will also be out of contract soon, creating further concerns about Liverpool's squad depth. ‎ ‎While the team has been s...