Trent Alexander-Arnold to Actual Madrid: Liverpool Legacy Ruined?
On Tuesday, rumours about Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold agreeing to affix Actual Madrid this summer season unfold like wildfire, sparking loads of outrage among the many Anfield devoted. The following checks by extra dependable journalists, leading to revelations that Los Blancos have been pushing to get it finished however nothing had certainly been agreed but, did little to calm issues down. The very fact stays, along with his contract set to run out on the finish of the season and Actual after his signature on a free switch, many count on the switch to undergo on July 1st, even when an official affirmation isn’t to be anticipated earlier than the ultimate Premier League spherical on Could twenty fifth. Fabrizio Romano, for instance, says his regular “right here we go” will come quickly, with solely minor particulars on a five-year contract between the England right-back and the Spanish giants left to be ironed out.
Painful recollections stirred
Having dropped from the stellar heights of the Eighties to virtually a mean Premier League aspect all through the next quarter of a century, Liverpool rose again up powerfully underneath Jurgen Klopp, however the years which preceded the arrival of the charismatic German noticed some nice gamers depart Anfield in seek for larger glory elsewhere. In 2001, Robbie Fowler joined Leeds United. In 2004, Michael Owen left for Actual Madrid. In 2011, Fernando Torres joined Chelsea. In 2014, Luis Suarez compelled a switch to Barcelona, and a yr later, Raheem Sterling kicked up a fuss to affix Manchester Metropolis. It occurred as soon as once more later, underneath Klopp, when Philippe Coutinho moved to Barcelona in January 2018.
However since then, Liverpool have gained the Champions League (and performed in two extra finals), together with the UEFA Tremendous Cup and the FIFA Membership World Cup, gained the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Carabao Cup twice – virtually each trophy on provide. They’ve definitely established themselves on the prime of the sport, and are even now on the right track to equal Manchester United’s file of 20 titles within the English prime flight.
There’s clearly no purpose for any participant to go away in the hunt for something higher. However for Alexander-Arnold, it appears there’s a have to seek for one thing completely different – a distinct problem, tradition, local weather – and if there’s nonetheless a step up from Liverpool in world soccer, or from every other prime membership for that matter, it may solely be Actual Madrid. And let’s face it – not everybody might be Steven Gerrard.
However no matter might the explanations behind the 26-year-old’s rumoured resolution be, at Liverpool he was anticipated to put on the captain’s armband sooner or later within the close to future, presently being the primary deputy to 33-year-old Virgil van Dijk, whose contract additionally expires quickly. He was born in Liverpool, his title had nice significance for the supporters, “the Scouser in our crew” as they used to sing from the Anfield stands. And whereas some might level to the truth that he has the best to resolve the place he needs to play and label his want to maneuver to the Spanish capital as comprehensible, nothing much less might be stated in regards to the feeling of shock and disappointment, even anger, amongst Liverpool followers. It’s additionally a indisputable fact that he’s a daily starter within the crew, that his presence on pitch contributes drastically to the creativity of the crew, and that the Reds want him for years to come back.
The sensation of being let down by somebody so beloved can’t be turned off at will, and the recollections of all of the painful departures for the reason that begin of the century have clearly been woke up.
Trent’s legacy
Alexander-Arnold’s involvement in every thing Liverpool have finished since 2018 has been of significant significance. In all competitions, he’s worn the well-known purple shirt on 349 events at senior stage, with 22 targets and 87 assists. Most of his targets have been long-range stunners, and his assists have been a seal of nice authenticity of the best way Liverpool performed underneath Klopp, significantly in the course of the golden days that adopted Coutinho’s departure. He’s produced some iconic moments for the membership, such because the “nook taken rapidly” towards Barcelona and the shushing of Manchester Metropolis followers on the Etihad.
Then again, Trent has usually been (rightly) criticized for his defensive deficiencies, which principally got here from his fixed involvements up entrance, as nicely an occasional lapse in focus when he’d lose observe of an opponent’s actions. However he principally endured the criticism and not using a phrase and sought to reply with a powerful big-game efficiency.
Generally, his stretch of poor kind would turn into worrying, however all issues thought-about, the greatness of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s legacy at Liverpool can’t be fairly doubted.
And that is the place the best debate relating to the continued state of affairs relies – would that legacy be ruined if he left the membership for nothing to affix Actual Madrid this summer season? It’s honest to say that there are lots of completely different opinions amongst Liverpool followers.
Nearly all of them be apologetic about seeing a participant usually described as a generational expertise, born within the metropolis, depart the membership, however whereas some maintain to the view that it’s his proper to strive one thing new, to take one other step in his illustrious profession, others really feel that by becoming a member of Actual Madrid, the membership that’s incessantly been Liverpool’s arch-enemy within the Champions League in recent times, significantly as a free agent, Alexander-Arnold would utterly destroy what might’ve been a historic legacy at Anfield.
Arguably, there’s loads of reality each methods. On one hand, some issues Trent has finished for Liverpool won’t ever be forgotten, it doesn’t matter what. He’ll all the time be valued for giving his all for the shirt in all of the years on the membership, for the reason that age of six. Then again, by leaving to affix Actual Madrid this summer season as free agent, he would certainly cross up an opportunity to stay cemented in Liverpool’s historical past as one of many nice icons of the membership, becoming a member of the likes of Gerrard, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, and others, believing the grass is greener elsewhere.
