Liverpool might need to prepare for a future without Trent Alexander-Arnold. The best scenario for the club is that he`s only out for a short time due to the ankle injury he sustained against Paris Saint-Germain. However, speculation about a move to Real Madrid for the right-back is growing stronger.
Alexander-Arnold`s contract is expiring in just over three months. While there`s discussion about renewing contracts for other players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who are now in their 30s, keeping Alexander-Arnold should be a priority unless his demands are unreasonable. He`s only 26, the team`s vice-captain, and a local player who joined Liverpool at age six.
He is also truly irreplaceable. If Alexander-Arnold departs for Real Madrid, there isn`t a like-for-like replacement available. Any player who comes close to his abilities would cost Liverpool a significant amount of money, while losing Alexander-Arnold means losing a top player for free when his contract ends. There`s a small chance Real Madrid, competing in the Club World Cup, could sign him slightly earlier and Liverpool might get a small fee before his contract expires on June 30th.
To understand Alexander-Arnold`s game-changing impact, consider this: since the 2021-22 season, only a few elite attacking players have more assists than him (38) in league and European games. These players include Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, Florian Wirtz, Vinicius Junior, Bruno Fernandes, Thomas Muller, Bukayo Saka, Julian Brandt, and Kylian Mbappe. Alexander-Arnold`s assist numbers are not just impressive for a defender; they are world-class for any attacking player.
His expected assists (xA) of 41.52 are only surpassed by Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Kimmich. Only Kimmich, a key midfielder for Bayern Munich, progresses the ball into the final third more often. Alexander-Arnold is among Europe`s top players in progressive passes, expected possession value, chances created, and big chances created. He`s also one of the best crossers in football, comparable to legends like Roberto Carlos, David Beckham, and Toni Kroos.
This season might seem slightly less impactful for Alexander-Arnold, possibly due to a more cautious approach by the manager. However, he still ranks fourth in the Premier League for xA and is in the top 20 for chances created per 90 minutes, ahead of attacking players like Anthony Gordon and James Maddison.
In a Real Madrid team that usually dominates possession, he would excel. His defensive weaknesses have been pointed out at Liverpool, and top left wingers can challenge him. However, at Madrid, he`d be playing alongside world-class defenders who can cover. While Jurgen Klopp made tactical adjustments to allow Alexander-Arnold to attack freely, Carlo Ancelotti or his successor could easily do the same. Real Madrid already has mobile center-backs and defensive midfielders who can support his attacking style.
For Liverpool, finding a replacement will be extremely difficult. While some midfielders or inverted full-backs might offer similar ball progression, they won`t provide the same level of creativity in the final third. To get that attacking output, they`d need a traditional attacking full-back, but those players typically don`t control the game from the right flank like Alexander-Arnold.
Reece James once looked like a potential rival for the title of best right-back, but his demanding role at Chelsea has taken a toll. The closest comparison to Alexander-Arnold, who might be obtainable, is Pedro Porro from Tottenham. However, Tottenham would likely demand a high transfer fee, and Porro isn`t at Alexander-Arnold`s level.
Liverpool has a promising young right-back in Conor Bradley. When Bradley has been fit, there`s been talk that he could replace Alexander-Arnold. Bradley is a clear talent at just 21 years old, and with the manager wanting to strengthen the attack this summer, promoting Bradley could be seen as a cost-effective solution to replacing a player potentially leaving for free.
However, relying solely on Bradley would leave a significant gap in Liverpool`s attack. Alexander-Arnold contributes 1.2 chances per 90 minutes, 0.17 xA, 10 passes (seven into the attacking third), and other top-level attacking stats. Only Alexander-Arnold himself can truly fill that void. His departure would require a team effort to compensate for his unique contributions.
