Liverpool

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot will be up before the media at about 09:00 BST this morning when we will hear from the Dutchman for the first time since Trent Alexander-Arnold announced he would be leaving the Reds.

Alexander-Arnold has said he will leave the club on a free transfer when his contract runs out on 30 June, 2025 and will not be extending his deal like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

The England right-back has been expected to join Real Madrid for a while and the Spanish club have approached Liverpool to sign him before his contract ends so he can play at the Fifa Club World Cup, which starts on 14 June in the United States.

It will be interesting to see what Slot has to say on the issue and what he does now in terms of playing Alexander-Arnold for his side's remaining three games of the season.

Can he play him as with the situation as it is? Should Conor Bradley now become his first choice?

The Reds host Arsenal on Sunday and we should also find out what Slot made of comments from Gunners boss Mikel Arteta earlier this week.

Arteta said Liverpool had "won the title with less points than we have in the past two seasons".

Liverpool were confirmed as this season's Premier League champions with 82 points after 34 games, with Arsenal having 77 points after the same amount of games last season and 78 at the same stage of the prior campaign.

Arsenal finished last season with 89 points and had 84 at the end of 2022-23.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City have all made contact to sign Brazil winger Rodrygo, 24, from Real Madrid. (Tbrfootball), external

Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong has a £29.7m release clause in his contract, providing a major boost to Liverpool who are keen on the 24-year-old Netherlands international. (Talksport), external

Finally, Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal are showing serious interest in Liverpool's 25-year-old Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez and 28-year-old Colombia winger Luis Diaz. (Caught Offside), external

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Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has waxed lyrical about Arne Slot's debut season as manager after their Premier League title win.

Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp over the summer and many predicted that this would be a year of transition, with the chances of winning the league seeming unlikely.

"I don't think anyone predicted this, not even the biggest Liverpool supporter," Carragher said speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside. "To win the league title is just 'wow'. We know how hard it's been over the last few years for Jurgen Klopp and he's created some of the best Liverpool teams the club has ever seen.

"To win the league in the first season for Slot is out of this world.

"I like that he's done it his way. He hasn't tried to be Jurgen Klopp or imitate him except for the microphone after the Tottenham game. I thought that was a brilliant moment and sums up Liverpool - that no-one is bigger than the club.

"The big thing for me is going into next season as favourites to win the league, we very rarely say that, even under Klopp. But I think if Liverpool have a good summer, it's the first time I sort of back them to win the league at the start of the season."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.

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If he plays against Arsenal on Sunday, it will be Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk's 300th Premier League appearance.

He would be the fourth Dutchman to reach the milestone, after George Boateng (384), Dennis Bergkamp (315) and Edwin van der Sar (313).

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Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving is as big a deal as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk staying.

You could argue that they need to try and replace him, but how do you replace a boy that came through the academy with the unique skillset that he has? Someone who has got the same drive to do what he did because he is a true, true Liverpudlian?

And yet even just from a numbers standpoint, you would think they are going to need to try and replace him at some level.

When it comes to the rest of the team, they might also want to look at the forward line. Are they happy? Is the manager happy with, for example, the situation with the number nines? I'm not 100 per cent sure. There has been so much variation in who and how they have played that position.

Then there is the likes of Andy Robertson, whose contract is going to be coming to an end in summer 2026. With the sagas and dramas we saw of this campaign, will that be happening next year too?

Liverpool will be looking at two or three players, one in each position to help give the squad good balance. It will not need a lot more because, as we have seen, what they have right now is capable of winning a Premier League title.

They are dynamic. They are really good with how they want to play football. They are tough. They have got good size. Overall, the squad is a very good age, barring one or two players. So with what they have got at present, they have the design and are going to do well for the future too.

Any team that chooses not to get something fresh is likely going to get caught out somewhere further down the road. And sometimes, that is not as far as we believe it will be.

Liverpool have real quality right now, but they know they cannot just let things get stale. All the teams behind them this season will have huge ambitions and want to give themselves an opportunity to win the Premier League title next year.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Liverpool are ready to sell 28-year-old Greece left-back Kostas Tsimikas this summer. (Football Insider), external

The Reds are also leading the race to sign Bournemouth and Spain centre-back Dean Huijsen, 20. (Teamtalk), external

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We asked for your views on the position that Liverpool should target in the summer transfer window.

At the time of writing, 61% of you selected 'centre forward' in our poll here.

Here are some of your comments:

Adam: We need a striker as a priority. We have attacking midfielders that are proven goalscorers but need an in-box marksman.

Jimmy: Trent Alexander-Arnold is not "replaceable" because he is unique and I hope he comes back in a couple of years. Losing him will open a door for Harvey Elliot in the meantime. Our main need is a composed and proven striker. Alexander Isak may be the obvious choice, but if Cunha behaves, he could be a better fit in a mobile front three. Harry Kane could be a good option off the bench.

Drew: Has to be an out-and-out striker. Darwin Nunez is far too inconsistent and has been given more than enough chances.

Sam: Michael Owen said that the only areas that must be strengthened are left-back and centre-forward, due to Conor Bradley being an adequate replacement for Trent. I think we can book it down to the centre forward. After all, defence has not been the Reds' biggest problem this campaign. Meanwhile, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez's moments of class have been very few and far between. It's an easy decision for me.

However, not everyone agrees with these sentiments.

Other fans argued the case for strengthening alternative positions.

Ken: Prior to the news this week, I would have earmarked the centre-back position but a right-back is now more pressing. This isn't because Bradley isn't a promising option but because he'd be the only option. Given that he's not fully grown into his body, has been susceptible to picking up injuries and is still a rookie at this level, another option to provide competition at right-back is crucial.

Phil: Fabulous first season for Arne but he needs to recruit in defence now. Alexander-Arnold is leaving, a creative midfielder and a new number nine is needed but I reckon there will be one signing that will surprise everyone.

Brian: A left-back. Andy Robertson is off the pace now and Kostas Tsimikas is average. We need a good young player like Milos Kerkez to be, one: a good defender and two: attack-minded, with a good delivery.

Mike Hughes
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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It is nothing new to see Liverpool fans celebrating. They have been doing it for much of the season and in the past week or so, it has gone up a gear or two.

But these days they are even jumping up and down and cheering their team on when they lose.

It was no surprise to see the Chelsea fans in delirious mood when referee Simon Hooper blew the final whistle at Stamford Bridge. Not only had they beaten the champions, they had given themselves a really decent chance of securing Champions League football for next season.

But with the Reds' travelling army seemingly still overjoyed, perhaps it serves to underline the fact that it is difficult to make it seem like things matter, when they do not really matter at all.

Arne Slot is 100 per cent correct when he said that nothing good ever comes from losing a football match and it is something Liverpool supporters have not had to face up to very often this season. But with all the hard work done a week earlier, it is no surprise that there was a lack of intensity at times and a shortage of the killer instinct that has been their hallmark this season.

Maybe it is the price you pay for becoming champions with four games to spare, but do not be surprised if something a bit more like normal service is resumed on Sunday when Arsenal visit Anfield.

On paper, it is another game that does not matter. But when you come face to face with the team that have been highlighted as your main title challengers, then there is more at stake than just three points.

After Slot made it clear that he intended to rotate his squad, perhaps we should not have been surprised by the make-up of the starting XI against Chelsea. He is right to reward those players that have played a part in their title success, but have not started as many games as they would have liked. Whether the changes are as wide-ranging against Arsenal remains to be seen.

There is also a question about Trent Alexander-Arnold, now that his plans for the future have been revealed. Should he be taken out of the starting XI because he will soon be leaving? Or should he get the chance to say a proper farewell by playing a significant part in his final two matches at Anfield?

The final call rests with Slot. When it comes to making big decisions this season, I cannot think of too many that he has got wrong.

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Liverpool enter the summer as champions but talk of changes to the squad is widespread.

So we want to know if the Reds could sign a player in just one area, what do you deem a priority?

Make a choice

And send us your reasoning but remember you have to pick one area to strengthen only

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With Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool departure at the end of the season now confirmed, discussions are already turning to who might be able to replace the 26-year-old.

While right-back Conor Bradley has impressed when stepping up in Alexander-Arnold's absence, is he ready to do so full-time?

If the Reds do decide to look elsewhere, here are three options they could consider...

Ninad Barbadikar
Football tactics writer

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Guela Doue is 32 games into his second full season of senior football in Ligue 1, but is already making plenty of waves at Strasbourg under 40-year-old former Hull manager Liam Rosenior.

After breaking through in the 2023-24 season at Rennes, Doue has demonstrated his versatility since his switch to Strasbourg.

The 22-year-old Ivory Coast international - brother of Paris St-Germain winger Desire - is a right-back who is well capable of playing as a wide centre-back in a three or as a right wing-back.

Doue's strengths lie in his ability to defend in one-against-one duels with intensity and move the ball upfield with his passes and carries. When he gets the opportunity to bomb forward at right-back, he can show a bit of flair on the ball.

The versatile defender has averaged 6.7 progressive carries with the ball this season in Ligue 1, standing only behind Diego Moreira at Strasbourg.

Like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Doue likes receiving the ball deeper in his own half before progressing the ball further up the pitch with long passes forward to his winger or striker.

Doue would be ideal for Slot's backline if they plan to bring in an adventurous full-back on the other side - Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez has been strongly linked with a move.

Read more from Barbadikar on how Liverpool could replace Alexander-Arnold

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Ninad Barbadikar
Football tactics writer

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Nicknamed the 'Danish Beckham' of Ajax, Anton Gaaei has progressed quickly to become the first-choice right-back this season under Francesco Farioli.

The 21-year-old, who joined Ajax after three seasons in the Danish Superliga with Viborg, has two goals and four assists in 23 Eredivisie appearances this term.

What immediately stands out about Gaaei is both the quality and variety of his crossing.

He is able to generate a lot of power with his right boot to cross the ball from deeper areas or hit the byline and cut back into the box too. His trademark is a low cross hit diagonally to go past defenders to connect with on-rushing team-mates.

He did exactly that in the most recent 'De Klassieker' between Ajax and Feyenoord to set up the winner late in added time.

Besides his crossing ability, Gaaei continues to improve on the defensive side of his game, which is helped by his excellent burst of pace in tracking back as well as making useful off-the-ball runs beyond his winger.

Entrusted with taking set-pieces as well, the young Dane benefits from Ajax's dominant style of play, which sees him generate about five crosses per match.

Still only in his second season in Dutch football, recruiting Gaaei would very much be a project signing for Liverpool but one that could well pay off in the long run.

Read more from Barbadikar on how Liverpool could replace Alexander-Arnold

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Ninad Barbadikar
Football tactics writer

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The youngest player of the three potential options - and arguably the one with the greatest potential - is Martim Fernandes, who has impressed many since breaking into the Porto first team this season.

In 23 league appearances, Fernandes has five assists to his name and at just 19 years of age, is already a key creative cog in the side.

He enjoys playing on the front foot and much like Trent Alexander-Arnold, he is an excellent crosser of the ball, adept at delivering into dangerous zones inside the opposition's six-yard box.

It is no wonder he is averaging an expected assists (xA) per match figure of 0.3 in the Portuguese top flight, a hugely impressive figure considering his age.

The young Portuguese provides an option on the flanks by playing high and wide up the pitch when Porto are attacking but is also capable of adding variety by making darting runs for the centre-backs to pass to, beyond the last defensive line of the opposition.

The Porto number 52 shows promising movement while underlapping or overlapping to hit the byline to cross, and can manoeuvre in tight spaces to curl a cross into the box, much as Alexander-Arnold does.

In the Liga Portugal this term, Fernandes has averaged an impressive 3.65 crosses per match.

His composure on the ball under pressure is impressive - and he has an excellent engine for the defensive side of the game. Fernandes makes for an excellent raw talent who could fit the Alexander-Arnold mould for Liverpool.

Read more from Barbadikar on how Liverpool could replace Alexander-Arnold

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Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott is attracting interest from several Premier League clubs, including Wolves. (Talksport, external)

Federico Chiesa could be on his way out of Liverpool this summer, with AC Milan and Napoli interested in the forward. (Calciomercato - in Italian, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Is Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving for a new challenge, for money or were Liverpool not giving him what he wanted or asked for?

"There are many parts to this," said pundit Pat Nevin on BBC Radio 5's Monday Night Club, when discussing all the different elements that culminate in a situation like Alexander-Arnold's.

"Yes, you want to learn about your capabilities of playing in different teams, different countries and different places but…the money is handy. Nobody has mentioned the money and if you are going at the end of your contract you are going to make a huge, huge sum of money.

"If he stayed at Liverpool he'd make massive amount of money as well. But if you run your contract down and leave at the end of that it's setting you up for life, and a couple of other lives after that as well. I understand why he's doing it, there's a variety of reasons, but let's be open about all of them."

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added: "I take Pat's point to a point about the money but I think he would have been setup at Liverpool anyway. I think it's more about the challenge. He's been at the club for 20 years and won everything and done everything.

"I totally understand what he is thinking and I think most fair minded people in football would all accept he's been a brilliant player for Liverpool and we often say this about Real Madrid when they come calling - can players turn them down?

"This smells like it has been a long time in the making. The contract situation is fascinating because once players get into two years and below, it's really up to the club to act and force that situation where they can't get to him leaving on a free."

New York Times chief football correspondent Rory Smith says Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure from Liverpool is "a double blow" for fans because not only is he leaving his boyhood club but he is leaving for free.

Smith formed part of the debate on Monday Night Club about the online criticism of Alexander-Arnold's exit and whether it extends into the stands at Anfield.

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added: "Could it be a dangerous thing in the long run with young Liverpool-born players, who have that attachment to the club, feel the club progressed them and go on to a good level, then feel 'I better leave early? They might be thinking 'I don't wan to go through the same thing'.

"It's quite a strange thing to think in that particular way. I was racking my brain to think where is this situation with Trent come from?"

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

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I knew it was going to happen, but I am angrier than I thought I would be.

Heading to Real Madrid for a challenge and to get out of your comfort zone? Do me a favour. It is the easiest club to play for in the world. You are going to win something almost every season, regardless of how well you do.

And the thing that really grates is this: Real Madrid are Liverpool's rivals.

They have beaten us twice in Champions League finals which Trent Alexander-Arnold played in.

He was in red when Sergio Ramos injured Mo Salah and Loris Karius in 2018. And with the new Champions League format, you can guarantee the two sides will meet at least a few times in the next five to six years.

It is not Sol Campbell going from Tottenham to Arsenal, but he is still joining a legitimate rival.

Why? Liverpool have just won the Premier League. How can a Scouser who stood on the pitch and saw the celebrations in Anfield last Sunday believe he is better off elsewhere?

Obviously, he is entitled to make his own decisions, but it is silly. He has tarnished a legacy and will never be looked at the same by the fans.

Salah and Virgil van Dijk, better players and foreigners who grew up in different countries, chose to renew their deals. Trent, Scouser, decided to join Real Madrid. And he has waited until now to tell us.

Why did he do that 'stop talking' gesture when he scored at Christmas? Why did he take his shirt off when he scored against Leicester City a few weeks back?

It is all just very odd - and I am entitled to feel as much.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

There has been a formidable look to Liverpool's right flank over recent years, with Trent Alexander-Arnold feeding the irrepressible Mohamed Salah.

The output has helped build Salah's reputation as a goal-hungry wide man, while Alexander-Arnold's stock as one of the world's most creative full-backs has ultimately won the attention of Real Madrid.

When he departs this summer, is there ultimately a risk Salah's form nosedives?

The data shows Premier League games in which Salah has featured without Alexander-Arnold have resulted in the winger being more efficient.

In the 215 league fixtures they have shared, the talisman has scored every 137 minutes and assisted a goal every 91.

When Alexander-Arnold isn't in the side, Salah finds the net every 114 minutes and creates every 85.

Such numbers may offer Liverpool fans who are sad to see Alexander-Arnold depart a crumb of comfort.

It would appear their 'Egyptian King' is more than capable of lighting up the right side of the pitch without the homegrown creative prowess of Alexander-Arnold behind him.

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It is often whistling in the wind to ask fans who feel betrayed, as some Liverpool supporters will, to remember the good times. But in this case it can be justified.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has played a pivotal role in the good times Liverpool's global fanbase have basked in, first under Jurgen Klopp then in a remarkable first title-winning season under Arne Slot.

He has made 352 appearances since making his debut in 2016, scoring 23 goals and claiming all of the game's major prizes. In that time, Liverpool have won 234 of those games.

For all the debate around Alexander-Arnold's defensive flaws, these were outweighed by the creative brilliance and stunning range of passing that always gave Liverpool an extra dimension. This is proved by his rate of providing 86 assists in his Anfield career.

Alexander-Arnold will be remembered as the local boy who became a modern Liverpool great. Now he must wait to see if this is fully acknowledged by the supporters who adored him as one of their own wearing the red shirt.

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Signing for Real Madrid will show Trent Alexander-Arnold he is "mentally strong", says Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

After months of speculation, it was confirmed on Monday the full-back will leave Liverpool at the end of his contract in the summer.

While there is no official news yet on where Alexander-Arnold will be playing next season, it is highly likely to be in Spain with La Liga giants Real Madrid.

"He hasn't signed anything but he doesn't have to sign anything to be a Real Madrid player next, which he will be. There are opportunities to sign something private, and at some point there will be a picture of him with Florentino Perez," Balague told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"Next thing for Real Madrid is negotiating something with Liverpool on him being able to finish his contract before 30 June so he can participate in the Club World Cup and be a Madrid player as soon as possible at the end of May.

"He is a top, top player and top, top players just work well anywhere.

"It is an interesting situation because Dani Carvajal will come back from injury - in my eyes, he was the best right-back in the world, ahead of Trent - so what the next manager of Real Madrid will have to decide is how to use him. But there is no fear from anyone.

"One of the things you get from signing for Real Madrid is the confirmation that mentally you are strong. You can deal with whatever comes your way. Trent will have to adapt but he will make himself important to Real Madrid, there is no doubt on that."

Listen back on BBC Sounds

Would the reaction have been the same if Mohamed Salah had not signed a new contract and left Liverpool for free this summer like Trent Alexander-Arnold?

That was the discussion on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, with New York Times chief football correspondent Rory Smith believing it would have been different if it was the Egyptian.

"To me, it is the perfect time to step away because he [Salah] has won everything and it is the right time to go and challenge himself.

"But the difference between him going for free and Mohamed Salah is that he is a Scouser.

"He is living the dream of every fan and most fans, totally understandably, don't understand why you would stop that dream."

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added: "It's absolutely extraordinary what he has achieved. Now he's made a choice, done everything and wants to move on. He's entitled to do that.

"Most players, if they could have trodden in his boots, would have made exactly the same decision."

Listen to the discussion on BBC Sounds