Neil Mellor has said he hopes recent events around Liverpool can change Trent Alexander-Arnold’s mind about leaving the club this summer.
The right-back is expected to depart at the end of the season and join Real Madrid on a free transfer when his contract at Anfield expires. While Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have penned new deals in recent weeks, no news has emerged on Alexander-Arnold’s future.
Most now expect him to leave, although nothing has yet been agreed between the player and Real. Until there’s confirmation, fans live in hope that the situation can be salvaged and the boyhood Red remains at Liverpool.
That’s certainly Mellor’s wish. The former player and LFCTV pundit, who is a regular at Anfield and the AXA Training Ground, feels the adulation Alexander-Arnold received from the fans last week after scoring the winning goal at Leicester City could offer a reminder of how adored he is by the fanbase. With Van Dijk and Salah staying and another Premier League title set to be imminently wrapped up, Mellor hopes all of that could convince the England international to sign an extension.
“I suppose we’ll know when his decision’s made,” the 42-year-old exclusively told Liverpool.com this week. “I think he’s got a big decision to make. Whether things have changed over the recent times, I don’t know. Van Dijk staying, Salah staying. I was at Leicester and I saw his reaction to scoring the winning goal, I saw the fans’ reaction, I heard the fans singing his name. He is loved at the football club.
“He has been a world-class player in that position; he’s redefined the right-back position with how good he’s been. I’d love him to stay. What decision he makes, I don’t know. But there are a few games left and he showed when he came on at Leicester the difference he can make in games.”
(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)
Should Alexander-Arnold leave, the big question is whether Conor Bradley is promoted to first-choice right-back or Liverpool looks to bring in a more experienced defender. It’s a dilemma Arne Slot hinted at in Friday’s press conference, and Mellor is in agreement that the Reds already have two excellent right-backs.
“Connor Bradley is a fantastic player,” said the ex-striker. “He’s a different sort of player to Trent but gives Liverpool a great deal in that position. He’s been a great understudy for a couple of seasons now at Liverpool.
“I think he’s a top player but you’ll always need competition for places. [Joe] Gomez also has played right full back, [Jarell] Quansah has played there, so I think you’ll also need a few options in that position.”
Mellor was speaking at the Worldwide Hospitality Group Golf Day, in aid of the North-West Air Ambulance Charity.
