05 May 2025 10:12:38
"After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season.
This is easily the hardest decision I've ever made in my life.
I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven't spoken about this yet, but it was always my intention to keep my full focus on the team's best interests, which was securing No.20.
This club has been my whole life - my whole world - for 20 years. From the Academy right through until now, the support and love I have felt from everyone inside and outside of the club will stay with me forever. I will forever be in debt to you all.
But, I have never known anything else and this decision is about experiencing a new challenge, taking myself out of my comfort zone and pushing myself both professionally and personally.
I've given my all every single day I've been at this club, and I hope you feel like I've given back to you during my time here.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank everybody - my coaches, my managers, my teammates, the staff and our incredible supporters - for the last 20 years.
I've been blessed enough to live out my dreams here and I will never, ever take for granted the special moments I've been fortunate enough to have lived through with you all. My love for this club will never die."
05 May 2025 10:20:39
Awful message tbh. Sounded like a robot reading a script. Trent was my favourite LFC player but gone down massively in my estimations during this saga. I don’t even begrudge him leaving but should have been honest all along rather than playing with the fans emotions. Would love to say good riddance but his loss massive hurts us as a side.
Just like the world was ending when Torres, Suarez and Klopp left though we will move on in a few months.
{Ed025's Note - i dont think he has done anything wrong myself Brummy, as he said he left it late so he could concentrate on No.20, good luck to him on his new adventure i say.
05 May 2025 10:22:22
What kind of challenges is he waiting at Madrid I don't know.
05 May 2025 10:26:08
You’ll be replaced just like every other player who left us and then regretted it .
No big deal for us.
05 May 2025 10:28:56
Trent speaks good Spanish, has an Instagram girlfriend and will earn a bucket load of cash what could go wrong Unfortunately he is going to a Real side needing a rebuild with potentially a new manager.
Wish him the best and thanks for the memories but time to move on like we have in the past.
05 May 2025 10:32:05
God luck to him. Hopefully we can move on from the subject now.
We were lucky to have seen Trent at the top of his game and he leaves us with some very good memories.
I would have preferred he stayed but the club will always be here whereas players will move on.
I'd like to wish him all the best with his career, except when he is playing against us in the champions league.
YNWA.
05 May 2025 10:34:04
Apart from Suarez, no one has thrived after leaving.
Maybe he’ll do well maybe he won’t but like Coutinho, I think he’s leaving at the beginning of something special.
05 May 2025 10:34:07
What did Kenny say? 'The most important people at Liverpool are the people who want to be here.
Thank you for the 20 years Trent, I hope we knock him out of the UCL next year.
05 May 2025 10:35:33
The response to his announcement is exactly why he didn’t do it earlier.
The backlash would have been huge. It would have affected his performances and potentially affected the team as a result.
This has been the worst kept secret of the season.
It’s not about playing with fans emotions because he never said he was going to stay. He said he wasn’t going to say anything. In comparison VVD and Mo always said publicly that they wanted to stay.
Not defending his decision to leave. Just pointing out what seems obvious which is why we waited until now to announce it.
Conor Bradley - over to you young man.
05 May 2025 10:39:17
They've beat us in champs league finals and broke his heart twice! The grass isn't always greener and I hope he isn't on the bus at the parade. For me all this time sticking up for him feels like a loyalty issue and I would of hated Gerrard if he'd left aswell. I would never change my supporting of a football club after 20 years for a new challenge. Nearly at Sterling levels for me.
05 May 2025 10:42:36
both player and club will move forward and hopefully both can have success! No need for bitterness, both Trent and the club have had a mutually beneficial relationship and now it ends. Winning No 20 was a great parting of ways so onwards and upwards!
05 May 2025 10:43:33
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. ??.
05 May 2025 11:02:12
This hurts and it should hurt he has been fabulous for us. People make decisions like this all the time that other people don't like. Trent will have to deal with this negativity. But if I had the chance I would shake him by the hand and wish him well. Good luck Trent best wishes. YNWA.
05 May 2025 11:02:40
Why would you want him to have success with RM Downy? This are our rivals.
05 May 2025 11:05:07
Chronology:
We opened negotiations April 24
Trent stalled until March 25
Conclusion here: “Hughes is doing nothing and doesn’t know how to do deals”.
Maybe the person you’re dealing with isn’t dealing in good faith.
I always believe an academy product has an obligation (if they are a wanted commodity) to try and get the club a fee. He didn’t, he got himself as much as he could. I get that people respect that. I don’t.
He was vice Captain, he was third highest paid and that isn’t enough.
Up the Bradley Reds.
05 May 2025 11:05:49
Also, this will potentially ruin the celebrations. Is he going to get booed if he plays? Will he be on the parade bus? He should have waited until after.
05 May 2025 11:11:00
Grow up Mark! I wish Trent well.
05 May 2025 11:15:20
It won’t ruin the celebrations. He was very sheepish in front of the Kop last week and had to be pushed forward. Will have to see what sort of reception he gets before the parade.
05 May 2025 11:21:17
He is moving to one of the most Toxic clubs I. Europe from one of the most respected. A club that bullies every referee before the games, causing problems for the man's kids in School! Influencing news organisations to sack reporters for doing their jobs properly with a president as bad as The Donald.
Anyone else but Madrid Trent. Awful club! With an awful attitude. Thank you for your service. ?♂️.
05 May 2025 11:22:29
Sod him. Top quality player but a niche one, I don’t think Real Madrid will utilise him properly and they’ll be on his case very quickly. I don’t think he’ll stay long, Newcastle in his future.
You can’t blame people for leaving, I don’t like the way he did it but it’s his choice, from a footballing perspective I’d understand it for most, but I just don’t think he’s going to work out there.
Either way we’ve got Bradley we’ll survive. Onwards and upwards we go.
05 May 2025 11:26:41
You will need to say that to the majority of Liverpool supporters Marty. Most will see it differently to you I feel.
05 May 2025 11:28:56
I respect he should go where he wants. but not forcing a club to pay a bit of cash for you is insane. He knows he's an amazing talent and going on a free just screws us over for getting a replacement. Screw Madrid for constnatly getting players on free.
05 May 2025 11:35:48
Instantly becomes a McManaman and an Owen for me. If anything them leaving should be looked at with more understanding. Owen brought in more money and McManaman had been tried to be sold by the club nd had had family tragedy he probably just wanted to get away from. Hopefully he realises what he's doing because as i said before he will NEVER now play for Lfc again, if it all goes pear shaped (and let's face it they only want him cos he's on a free) he will have to come home to a villa or a chelsea at best. A shame, and don't hit me with this 20 year thing, we don't celebrate the 12 years of service every 18 yr old we deem not good enough has given when he doesn't make the grade. A lifelong Lfc fan is literally giving up his lifelong dream to go over to his "mate", its actually mental, if you said to me 12 months ago, Trent would leave i would have signed you in.
05 May 2025 11:38:15
He finally confirms it and we can move on.
It's his decision to trade inevitable legendary status for a "new experience".
The irony is the "fan" leave the club for nothing AND goes to play for a direct rival.
05 May 2025 11:46:47
Where did the reports that we opened negotiations on April 2024 come from? Genuinely curious since this is the first I've heard of it.
But anyway, maybe it's just me being apathetic but I don't feel anything about him leaving tbh. He's just another player to me, albeit a good one for us. Liverpool has lost many great players in its history and has still survived to this day. We'll survive him leaving us too.
05 May 2025 11:58:20
Here We Go….
Let the silly people begin
No player is bigger than LFC. We are and will always be the greatest football club the world has ever seen…
We wish our past and outgoing players the best for their careers and look forward to the incoming talent we take in
YNWA.
05 May 2025 11:59:02
In the current Madrid system. What like all the other players there have been brought in for. he'll be third choice right back. Unless they change the system to allow for TAA's lack of aggressive defending, he's going to have a difficult time. I cannot believe he has moved for footballing reasons, there is no fit for a TAA in Madrid's current genre of football. Anyway, Good luck to him. Quite honestly i don't think he'll be missed as much as many might think.
More importantly. I think it gives us a great opportunity to tweak the way we set up and play and add a new tactical dimension to our game. We were getting a bit predictable against the more tactically aware opposition.
Absolutely chuffed to bits with number 20.
05 May 2025 12:10:52
The Athletic.
05 May 2025 12:13:57
This from James Pearce:
The inside story of Trent Alexander-Arnold's decision to leave Liverpool.
⚽️ Telling Slot face to face at Kirkby in March.
⚽️ Talks/ opening offer initiated by Hughes last April as LFC tried to convince him to stay.
⚽️ How Real Madrid stepped up their pursuit.
⚽️ Why he ultimately decided to leave.
05 May 2025 12:17:17
Gutted and excited at the same time.
When a star left, our track record always shown we'll be having another star after that.
I'm so excited of who'll be next!
Thanks TAA! I'll be watching lots of Real's games then since you'll be there.
05 May 2025 12:17:20
He is a world class player who has given his exceptional best for this club (to date), a top young bloke who carried himself out impeccably, a great team player. Wherever he goes throughout his career I will follow and support him.
He gave us one of the best moments in the history of the club on that night against Barcelona.
A Liverpool Legend. YNWA!
05 May 2025 12:22:21
After his abysmal performance against United it was clear he was leaving.
The fact he is going to the scummiest club in world football is what bothers me more and says a lot about his character. That club has no morality at all but that is their transfer strategy now. Unsettle players to wind down their contracts thus making sure the club receive no funds and are less competitive in the market.
They'll do it to arsenal next with saliba.
Can't wish him all the best because I genuinely hope that whole club implodes.
05 May 2025 12:40:01
I wish Trent nothing but the best wherever he ends up (except when they play Liverpool, haha) .
He was a great member of the team for almost all of his life, and now he's moving on to a new challenge. Best of luck young man!
05 May 2025 12:45:32
I’m wondering who the three people ahead of him are?
He will kick the ball towards Mbappe, Vini, Bellingham.
He will be fine there.
05 May 2025 12:47:43
Good luck to the lad but he had already decided to join them hence why they made a bid for him in January, i don't think he will go on the parade n now with Bradley fit i don't think we will see him in a red shirt again, leaves as legend and remember guys in football there is no loyalty, clubs get rid of boyhood supporting clubs all the time it's a business at end of the day.
05 May 2025 13:09:04
Thanks Whyowhy for directing me to that article. I read it in full and it seemed like the club and Trent were very professional throughout. It could very well be a propaganda piece put out by Pearce by I don't see how the club nor Trent can be blamed for the way things turned out. It's just the way it is.
05 May 2025 13:10:46
He gave up potential legend status when he made this decision.
05 May 2025 13:33:05
No longer a legend for me, you don't walk out on your family.
05 May 2025 13:33:05
Thanks for being a brilliant part of two PL winning teams and a CL winning team Trent, some fabulous memories and the best corner kick I’ve ever seem - perfect skill and effortless grace and style. Best wishes for whatever the future brings.
“the king is dead, long live the king” - time to step up Conor, your chance to shine.
05 May 2025 13:36:13
I hear what you’re saying Mark08 but your constant slagging of Trent is a little boring. The lads gone, wish him luck and move on. It’s just a game.
05 May 2025 13:39:05
This hurts a lot.
For all the drivel he spews, I think Carra got it spot on. I'd understand if we weren't competitive in the League/ CL, but we are. He can win everything he wants right here, it's clearly not about that (and he said as much himself) .
Get him out of the team and play Bradley now imo, we don't have time to be sentimental about this. It's time to give Bradley the chance to show we won't miss Trent.
05 May 2025 13:41:35
Good luck to him, thanks for working hard and helping us win two league titles.
05 May 2025 13:43:13
Definitely not world class - had about 3 excellent games all season which is def not in the category of world class - doubt he will even get the right back position for best premier league team this season. Had more poor games than excellent games. Same as last season. And now definitely won’t be classed as a Liverpool legend. Probably a good time to move on though as I don’t think his game would get any better playing for us. Peak Trent was 3-5 years ago. Over to you Bradley.
05 May 2025 13:59:36
What propaganda are you on about?
You’re not one of those people who thinks the club have a PR team spinning fantasies to make themselves appear better for the transfer obsessed e-reds are you?
You know that’s crackers right?
This was straight from the Real playbook. Tap him up, make sure he runs his contract down, get him on a free and give him some of the money he’d have generated by transfer in extra wages and sign on - but crucially that amount will be less than a transfer fee. It’s what Madrid do. They’re excellent at it.
This is not, in anyway, a failure from Richard Hughes and the club. They’ve been in negotiations since April 24. Trent has stalled until March 25. He’s gone for free and they get their man for nothing and he and his agent get a massive pay day.
Where you still hoping somehow you could blame the club?
05 May 2025 10:58:46
Ed25 - if reports are to be believed that he’s had his mind made up for over a year he could have announced it at the start of the season and then focused on number 20 to be honest with the fans. Would have got a lot more respect for that in my book. Anyway he should take it as a compliment people some are so angry - shows how much we all loved him.
{Ed025's Note - im thinking more that it was an option rather than set in stone Brummy..
05 May 2025 14:33:37
You need to learn how to read Whyowhy instead of coming up with narratives in your head about what other people are saying and getting upset about it. I said that the article indicated that no one was to blame for the entire thing. It was just the way things turned out. I'm not blaming the club and I'm not blaming Trent.
Btw, if you read the article, they have not been in negotiations since April 24. That was when Hughes first wanted to start talks with Trent but Trent informed that he wanted to see how the new management got on first before committing to anything, which is fair. It does disprove the notion that the club left it late talk to him about his contract though so I am relieved about that. Things happened and Trent ultimately decided to step outside his comfort zone and try something new for himself. I have to add that it didn't seem like an easy decision for Trent to make, unlike what other posters have been insinuating.
And btw, each team, including us, is still a corporation at the end of the day and they would have a corporate comms team. That's the propaganda I'm talking about. You're naive if you think that our club doesn't have a PR team. So I was just wondering, given the detail that James Pearce went into in his article, whether the information he got from the club was framed in such a way that painted them in a better light. That's the "propaganda" I was talking about.
So, before you jump down my throat and try to put words in my mouth and paint me as someone you think I am, I suggest you learn to read and comprehend what other people are saying.
05 May 2025 14:54:42
I say this not to offend but for me this is the best thing to happen for Liverpool other than trophies in a long long time.
We will dramatically improve without having Trent. A few tweaks here and there and we will be firing towards a treble imo next season.
05 May 2025 15:08:04
When you use language like “propaganda” it’s pretty illuminating.
Negotiations started April 24
A negotiation includes: “hi, we want to talk about an extension”
“Not now thanks”
That’s the start of negotiation. It’s started April 24
Your first instinct was to say “well I haven’t seen this anywhere” - so after you see it, you reach the conclusion it’s potentially “propaganda” (is defined as information of a biased or misleading nature) . So who do you suspect is attempting to present biased or misleading information via James Pearce?
05 May 2025 15:15:42
I'm sorry negativered, I think that is an awful opinion . Trent is a magnificent and truly unique talent, we will miss him and his ability. I'm not saying we won't find a way to replace what he offers but it won't be easy. I"m sad about this for footballing reasons just as much as I am to see him join such a rubbish club. Not going to add to the choir bashing him because I don't see the point, it is saddening though.
05 May 2025 15:44:51
How unlike you walter, have you been drinking?
05 May 2025 15:45:08
It can’t be a good thing that probably our highest prized asset leaves for free Negative. I do get the point that Slot can slightly change the way we play and we can hopefully control games even better.
05 May 2025 14:45:46
Ed025, he's ran down his contract here. Cmonn mate, we're no oil club. We've lost a player here to real Madrid who's worth 100 million. We can't afford to operate like this, It's disgraceful. Trent and his brother have engineered this. If trent was any other player, Gerrard, suarez, coutinho stars before that ran down their contract, there would be justified anger. He's cleverly avoided this. His brother also has a history on his social media of taking sly digs at the club. So no mate, i don't agree with the waving him on and hopefully you do well against us in the champions league. Madrid is a horrible club.
{Ed025's Note - this is all down to mismanagement by the club Batman and not Trent, he should have been tied down or put on the transfer list 18 months ago mate..
05 May 2025 16:03:07
Don’t begrudge him leaving, and pretty gutted as I’d hoped he would stay, but to do so on a free is a pretty poor move in my opinion - that is close to 100mil. Great player, but not a great exit.
05 May 2025 16:05:24
He’s blown his legacy for me. Hopefully he won’t get selected for the last 3 games. Talks about loving the club but leaves for £0 meaning they will need to shell out £30m+ for a replacement (I’m unconvinced by Bradley personally) . Awful decision I’m afraid.
05 May 2025 16:09:07
Just a thought on Trent playing in any of the remaining games. Personally I see no issue in Trent being involved whether as a starter or from the bench. Not to question his attitude though, but there is the potential he could suffer a major injury and therefore may not be 100% committed.
I also bear him no ill will and wish him well unless he plays against Liverpool. Thank you Trent for being a vital member of the Liverpool team which won so much.
05 May 2025 16:25:56
Fair play to the lad. A truly magnificent footballer, best rb in the world at one point, a mercurial passer of the ball, nice dude to boot. I’m sorry he’s going, but he’s done nothing wrong at all. As a young man with a chance to live and work in a different country with arguably the best club on the planet, he’d be mad not too, if that’s something he wants, which he clearly does. I’ll miss his tenacity and his flair. Good luck to him, right up to the point he plays us in a CL semi final then the worst of luck to him obviously ?.
{Ed025's Note - a very good footballer, who has been the best RB at liverpool at one point is more accurate Hoody...nice dude i agree with mate..
05 May 2025 16:33:19
Well I hope we never sign him back just another Owen if not worse at least we got money for him and by far the best years of his career. He has left for nothing in his prime while we are at the top for me the worst thing is the nonsense about negotiating a new deal when he had not interest at all just wanting to join the his mate the most overrated player in the world. When it goes wrong and he sees what there fans are like and there on his back I don’t think he will handle it because when the talk about his poor defensive skills came around in the press his confidence took a hit but he had the Liverpool fans behind him and he won’t get that there. My opinion is it will go terribly wrong for him there but he has made his bed so he can sleep in it.
05 May 2025 16:35:02
So Klopp leaves, the club don’t know who is arriving.
But Ed025 believes we should force a player to sign a contract or transfer list him?
We transfer list him because you can’t make players sign contracts - clubs make offers: Trent says no. We have a player not playing in a vital season (which we won) to do what? Show him what for?
Ed, your blue glasses are steaming up. The player ran his contract down. That’s it.
{Ed025's Note - but thats the gamble WOW, dont moan about losing him for nothing if you are not prepared to call his bluff mate, or you would have ended up with 3 players holding the club to ransom with half a million pound a week contracts, and why you think my views are linked to me being a blue makes no sense at all, say no to drugs my friend..
05 May 2025 16:40:34
I have no problem with Trent leaving. But no transfer fee?! He'll be a wealthy man with or without the RM signing on bonus. He could have left in a way that paid for his replacement. Transient employee . he could have been so much more.
It will be interesting to see how Slot's tactics evolve next season. Bradley is a very different player and expect new blood in the squad.
Enjoying number 20 and excited for the future!
{Ed025's Note - so Madrid say "hey Trent when we take you we can either give Liverpool £50m or you can have all the money yourself?...now theres a poser... :)
05 May 2025 16:46:38
Gaga - There's no point in starting Trent if Bradley's fit enough to start all three games. I'd rather work on developing a player who will actually be here next season.
05 May 2025 16:51:42
It's pointless continuing to engage with someone who only picks and chooses what they want to read and twist it to fit their own narrative and jump down people's throats for it. Read my post in its entirety and the message I was trying to bring across is clear. I thank you once again for referencing the article for me and I'll just leave it as that.
05 May 2025 17:24:55
You don’t know we didn’t. Your assumption is, I think tainted as with most close rival fans, and so your conclusion on a Liverpool page is “the club did it wrong”. Which I suspect you do because it’s funny to wind rivals up.
We have zero insight. We have no idea what Trent has been saying, we didn’t know we didn’t offer to call his bluff and he won.
He could’ve said “doesn’t matter, I will languish in reserves, I’m going to Madrid” what a win that’d be. Not having access to a player who helped us win our 20th league title.
The assumption the club could’ve done anything to force him to move is not based in reality. Also, transfer listing - is that still actually a thing?
{Ed001's Note - of course transfer listing is still a thing.}
05 May 2025 18:17:43
Well hopefully we can rebuild stronger, both in defence and midfield. Although I think he was a good player for us, defensively he was suspect on numerous occasions which hopefully can be rectified whether it be Bradley or a signing. And hopefully the midfield will get improved with someone able to link play and put in the crosses and passes trent was able to do. Hopefully we may be able to improve as a team overall.
05 May 2025 18:40:54
Thank you Trent for all that you have done at LFC
I hope that you win nowt at RM and that you come back to LFC to finish off your career.
05 May 2025 18:48:47
Had Trent signed a new contract does anyone honestly believe for 1 minute that Madrid would still be putting an offer in for him, not a chance, he likely won’t last 2 seasons before gets moved on for a 40-50 million profit, clever business really, apart from a few Hollywood passes he’s been poor for the last 2 seasons, shame we lost out on a transfer fee but we will certainly improve in that area.
05 May 2025 18:51:43
I agree with all Ed025 has said
And for me- if the club started talking to Trent and his team in April ‘24 that is way too late.
I’m pretty sure one of the Ed’s said in here an offer was put on the table 2 years ago but the club failed to follow this up?
It isn’t Trent’s fault we aren’t getting a fee for him.
Like Ed025 said- got to call his bluff and if he wasn’t going to sign then he goes on the transfer list
The Club chose not to do that so now we need to go out and buy a RB to support Bradley in that position (I think a whole season of not being rested could be too much for him)
05 May 2025 19:41:44
Neither party did what should have been done. If Trent wasn't going to sign a new contract last year, he should've been sold last summer and blame lies with LFC for not doing so. If Trent wanted to see how Slot et al would work out, then he should've signed a 1 year extension and treated the club with respect. Leaving his boyhood club, city and supporters on a free is insane and it looks more like individual greed than anything else so I can understand the anger towards him.
Hopefully this is a learning experience for the club (as are Mo and Virg) - they cannot keep putting themselves in this position with contracts.
{Ed025's Note - the problem is RM is that nobody outside the 2 parties knows exactly what went on at those meetings between Trent and the club mate, or what was offered or any alternatives, but i do agree that this has to be a learning curve for the club..
05 May 2025 19:50:52
There is a lot of heat in this debate over Trent and the notion that he is now a traitor for opting to go to Madrid, had he jumped when we were at a low point then I could see some of the anger being justified as a local talent leaving a sinking ship but we just on the title! Trent is a talented player but let’s be honest here, he is not generational talent and has been bang average this year, if he had a large transfer fee attached to him Madrid wouldn’t be buying him.
Leave him head to Madrid and thank him for his time at the club, we all move on. Madrid are not a direct rival to us and yes we may meet in Europe but wouldn’t we all secretly love to see how he stacks up against our attackers (joke) .
06 May 2025 08:24:17
Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the two riders who lost their lives in the accident at the Motorsport race at Oulton Park on Monday. 21 and 29years of age. Tragic and puts the stuff on this thread in it’s true content of ‘much ado about nothing’.
06 May 2025 09:24:05
RM tapped up Trent 2 years ago and he's been running down his contract since.
That's what RM do.
Time to move!
06 May 2025 09:49:28
Everyone in Liverpool is not arsed, he's one of us, helped us win the title, what has he done wrong? If some of you went to the match or lived in Liverpool you'd know we wish him well. Just enjoy being champions,