Fans will feel let down by Trent Alexander-Arnold exit – Jamie Carragher

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit from Liverpool will cost him the unconditional support of fans, according to former Reds defender Jamie Carragher.

The 26-year-old confirmed on Monday he would be ending his 20-year association with the club this summer, when he is widely expected to be joining Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Carragher, a one-club man who made 737 appearances for the Reds in all competitions, says Alexander-Arnold’s contribution to the club “will never be diminished”, but believes it will change how he is remembered and thought of by fans.

“Players are loved even more when they genuinely mean it when they say they do not want to play for anyone else,” Carragher wrote in a column in The Telegraph.

“If that image of the home-grown talent living the dream is an illusion, people feel let down.

“By leaving Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold is making it harder for his own club to win its 21st league title and seventh European Cup. That is bound to stir emotions.

“With Monday’s statement, the unconditional support Alexander-Arnold enjoyed from the Kop when he was fully committed to Liverpool has gone.”

Carragher insisted he was not angry with Alexander-Arnold for leaving Anfield, but expressed his disappointment that the prospect of further success was not enough to keep him at the club.

“My thing with Trent is, it’s his career, he’s free to choose what he’s going to do and he’s going to the biggest club in the world,” Carragher said during Monday Night Football on Sky Sports.

“I’m not angry, I’m more just disappointed that as a local player, he doesn’t think Liverpool’s enough when it’s winning.

“We’ve had players in the past who’ve left, Steve McManaman, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard almost left, but that was because they were playing for Liverpool teams who weren’t as good as this Liverpool team.

“This Liverpool team is arguably among the best five or six teams in Europe, just won the Premier League and could be on the verge of something special over the next five or six years.

“They are looking like they could have an era of domination maybe and win a lot of big trophies and that’s not enough for him.”

Alexander-Arnold said opting to leave Liverpool was “easily the hardest decision” he had made in his life.

Three of his current team-mates, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo and Andy Robertson described him as a “legend” in Instagram posts on Monday, with Scotland captain Robertson adding: “Brother for life!! We’ve been through it all together!”

Reds midfielder Harvey Elliott wrote: “Unbelievable player! Even better guy. Trent Alexander-Arnold Enjoy it brother. Thank you!,” while Dominik Szoboszlai added: “My boy Trent Alexander-Arnold Love u and enjoy.”

Liverpool’s 2020 Premier League-winning skipper Jordan Henderson posted: “What a journey!! It’s been amazing to see you grow as a player and a person over the years. Thank you for everything and good luck with the next chapter… just keep being you and challenging yourself everyday! The scouser in our team! Trent Alexander-Arnold.”