Jamie Carragher hopes Sunday’s scenes at Anfield can convince Trent Alexander-Arnold to sign a contract extension at Liverpool.
The right-back is expected to leave at the end of the season, when his current deal expires, and sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer. It would be a bitter pill for Liverpool fans to swallow, especially for a boyhood Red to walk away from the Premier League champions and join a club who have developed a habit of nicking the team’s top talents.
Carragher has been outspoken on the matter on several occasions this season and criticized Alexander-Arnold’s supposed role in a January bid from Real, while claiming his situation is unique given he is a Scouser and boyhood fan.
But the ex-defender has repeatedly said he wants Liverpool’s No.66 to stay, even if it’s a scenario he thinks looks increasingly unlikely.
“It doesn’t look like it,” Carragher told Sky Sports on Thursday when asked if he sees Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool next season. “I hope he is, as I’m sure most supporters do.
“He’s a unique footballer – that’s why Real want to sign him, and that’s why he’s been part of one of the most successful eras in Liverpool’s history.
“We all want that to continue, but at the moment, it’s not looking too good. But when you look at the scenes at the weekend, Trent being involved in that, being a local player, the adulation the supporters and The Kop have for him.
“You’re watching that hoping that that’ll maybe sway him to put pen to paper. All will be revealed in the next few weeks.”
Alexander-Arnold was front and center of the celebrations on Sunday at a raucous Anfield as Liverpool was crowned Premier League champions following a 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
He danced with Andy Robertson, jumped on Ibrahima Konate’s back and posted a social media video singing with teammates in the dressing room.
The 26-year-old also lapped up the applause from The Kop and banged his chest as “the Scouser in our team” reverberated around Anfield. Whether that affection is enough to change his mind remains unclear.
(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
But with the June transfer window opening in four weeks, a decision will need to be made soon if Real wants to secure the England international’s services before the Club World Cup next month.
Liverpool won’t be involved in the US-based tournament. Instead, it will focus on transfer activity and preparing for Arne Slot’s second year at the helm.
“I think the excitement now is that what’s this manager going to do with his own?” Carragher added. “Because it’s still Jurgen Klopp’s squad really.
“He [Slot] has obviously moved it on from last season, but I still think he’ll want to change things and put his own stamp on it in the summer. That makes me really excited for the coming years.”
