Liverpool

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BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Lee in Essex asked: Do you think any of the players currently playing in the Premier League would get into their respective club's greatest ever XI?

Phil answered: Mohamed Salah makes a strong case to be in Liverpool's greatest XI, while some of their fans would also try to build a case for Virgil van Dijk. He would be up against huge competition, though, when you think of players like Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrenson - and going even further back people like Ron Yeats. It is a brilliant debating point.

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We asked who you think should replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back if he leaves Anfield this summer.

Here are some of your comments:

Christian: It's Conor Bradley all the way. The lad has been incredible every time he's played for us. He's already given fans some huge moments - that crunching tackle on Mbappe for one - and he has earned his spot. We only need to buy a good back-up at this point.

Adrian: You need to have two top players in every position. Bradley can definitely be one of those but we do need another - I'd go for Frimpong.

Maritn: Tino Livramento is the obvious candidate to bring in to compete with Bradley for the right back berth. He has had premier league experience with Newcastle.

Jamie: Conor Bradley easily has the capability to take over from Trent. I'd much rather us use our money this window on a striker and to replace Salah or Van Dijk if no contract is agreed. But definitely look to sign a young full-back to back up Bradley.

Jamie: If Slot wanted to buy a new starting full-back I'd recommend Joakim Maehle from Wolfsburg. Can play right and left back, scores and assists. He's a fantastic player.

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Earlier this week Liverpool defender Jarrell Quansah was linked with a move to Newcastle in the newspapers.

The team on BBC Radio Merseyside were joined by fan Luke Leiva to discuss the possibility of Quansah leaving and he said: "I think it's more speculation, to be honest. He has had a really difficult season, but I think he is finding his feet again.

"He isn't going to go to Newcastle and be a starter, and Liverpool have just given him a new deal. I can't see him leaving, and I would be devastated if he did. I think he has a massive upturn in potential - and he is in the England setup, so Thomas Tuchel clearly thinks that as well."

Listen to more audio about the Reds from BBC Radio Merseyside

If Trent Alexander-Arnold does become the latest to depart Anfield at the height of their powers for a European giant, he will be treading a familiar path.

While the likes of Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Xabi Alonso became great successes elsewhere, departure from Liverpool has not always guaranteed glory.

BBC Sport looks at three players who did not find the grass greener away from Anfield.

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Fernando Torres

After arriving at Liverpool in 2007, Fernando Torres finished third in both the Ballon d'Or and Fifa World Player of the Year in 2008 and scored the winning goal for Spain in the Euros final.

He scored 81 goals in 142 games for the Reds before Chelsea broke the British transfer record by paying £50m to sign a 26-year-old Torres in January 2011.

After controversy surrounding his exit, Torres' form dried up completely in west London. After taking 14 games to score his first goal, he went on to manage 45 in 172 games for Chelsea, and just 20 in 110 Premier League appearances.

He may have won the Champions League and FA Cup in 2012, but did not start either final and was an unused substitute in the latter.

Torres later said on the move: "I always said it was my fault. I was old enough to find solutions but I didn't do it. I won the trophies but I didn't do it every week."

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Michael Owen

Michael Owen signed for Liverpool aged 12 and had won two Premier League Golden Boots by the age of 19. His meteoric rise continued and two years later he played a key role in a treble of the EFL Cup, FA Cup and Uefa Cup, becoming the fourth English player to win the Ballon d'Or.

Following an injury-plagued 2003-04 season, Owen signed for Real Madrid but struggled for form and consistency among Real's Galaticos. He managed 16 goals in 45 games but returned to the Premier League with Newcastle just a year later for a club-record fee.

He never recovered his Liverpool form, playing just 79 games across four seasons at St James' Park before tarnishing his Anfield legacy by joining arch-rivals Manchester United.

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Philippe Coutinho

In January 2013, Liverpool signed a then 20-year-old Philippe Coutinho for £8.5m. Five years later, they sold the attacking midfielder to Barcelona for £142m.

It was an incredible rise in value, even if Coutinho's time at Anfield had been impressive, scoring 54 goals and making 43 assists across 201 games.

With magical free-kicks and a show-reel of spectacular goals, it was no wonder La Liga giants Barcelona came calling (more than once) and it was a phone call that the Brazil international wanted to answer.

But with a large price tag weighing heavily on his back, Coutinho struggled to reach the same heights again.

His first full season in Spain brought only five goals in La Liga. A loan spell at Bayern Munich followed and he again struggled for form on his Barcelona return.

Former Reds team-mate Steven Gerrard convinced him to join Aston Villa in January 2022, but a similar underwhelming pattern has followed and he is currently on his third loan spell away from Villa Park.

And he is still only 32.

The moral of the story? The grass is not always greener...

Liverpool will rival Arsenal for the signature of Frankfurt's 22-year-old French striker Hugo Ekitike during the summer transfer window. (Mirror), external

Nottingham Forest, Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in Udinese and Italy striker Lorenzo Lucca, 24. (Messaggero Veneto, in Italian), external

Manchester City are plotting a move to re-sign Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong, 24, with Liverpool also interested in the Netherlands defender. (Teamtalk), external

Liverpool's England defender Jarell Quansah is reportedly interesting Newcastle, but the Reds are not considering selling the 22-year-old. (Athletic - subscription required), external

The Reds are expecting a big proposal from the Saudi Pro League for Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, 25. (Football Transfers), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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As the noise around Trent Alexander-Arnold's possible summer exit increases, so does talk around who could replace him.

Liverpool could already have what they are looking for in academy graduate Conor Bradley, with the 21-year-old impressing when he has deputised.

But the Reds may also want to look at who might be available in the Premier League and further afield.

Who do you think would be the ideal replacement if Alexander-Arnold does leave at the end of his contract?

Should Liverpool look at homegrown talent or spend money elsewhere?

Let us know

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In my mind, Real Madrid are probably the biggest club in world football so if they express an interest in you then that has to be acknowledged.

That is a reflection of where you are in your career and your status in world football regardless of whether you go or not. It is a huge achievement for them to even be interested in you, let alone trying to bring you across.

Is it a once in a career opportunity? Possibly, yes.

For Trent Alexander-Arnold, there will be different critique because he is from Liverpool and supports them. That means he shares the same identity as the fans.

Football fandom is a lot about identity and that is why there can be such a strong reaction to something you would not do yourself. The difference is that for some, it is more than just about supporting, it is a profession.

Liverpool fans don't have to feel proud, but there will be lots of fans who are disappointed yet appreciative for what he has done to this point.

He is not leaving the club to go and sign for Manchester United or a rival, and I don't think he would have done that.

He hasn't just been good for Liverpool - he has been iconic in the big moments. And he is likely to lift the Premier League title at the end of this season as a Liverpool fan, for only the second time ever in club history.

There are so many different ways of looking at it and it is not as simple as saying 'I am going to stay here until the end of time' because he might not even be wanted in a few seasons by the club. We can assume that Liverpool would still want him but football is a business and we are seeing that now more than ever.

I think it is brave what Alexander-Arnold is doing because he has been very successful at Liverpool. He has been a huge part of their success in the last five or six seasons and fans will always have those memories.

This is an opportunity he has and it is the decision he has had to make. I don't think he owes anyone anything from that stand point as it is his career. Other people telling him what to do misses the point.

It is potentially a huge move for him and for English football, so if he does go then I look forward to seeing how he will perform in a different league and to see if his skills can translate.

He has been a huge inspiration to people who have wanted to play football in England and for Liverpool fans who would love to do what he has in his career for his boyhood club.

Not only that, he is considered to be one of the best creative defenders in the history of the Premier League in such a short space of time. That is a credit to him.

I can understand the sadness but it is about taking a minute to appreciate everything that he has done for the club. He deserves the credit because it has been extraordinary.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

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Premier League clubs have agreed the dates for the summer transfer window.

The window will open early, between Sunday 1 June and Tuesday 10 June, due to an exceptional registration period relating to the Fifa Club World Cup.

It will then reopen on Monday 16 June and close on Monday 1 September.

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

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I do not think this situation with Trent Alexander-Arnold says much about Liverpool's ambitions to be honest. More about his. The club offered him significant money to stay on, but it seems like he had already decided on leaving. What more can you do?

Could Liverpool have handled it better? In hindsight, perhaps. We have gone through a few sporting directors in the past couple of years and when the job of renewing Alexander-Arnold's contract landed on Richard Hughes' desk last summer, his hands were tied. Trent was in the final year of his contract. At that point, the player is in charge.

So from this perspective, it should have got done before Jurgen Klopp announced he was leaving - as obviously no new deals would be signed with players unsure of the club's future.

But as vice-captain this season, Trent has barely given an interview about the club. They've all been about himself. He celebrated with the 'keep talking' gesture when he scored against West Ham over Christmas, but then infamously put in one of the worst performances of the campaign against Manchester United in January's draw, when more news about his probable exit had leaked.

Real Madrid are the biggest club in the world. If a local lad wants to sacrifice some of his legacy for chance over there, that is his prerogative. It is not all on the club.

If they fail to renew Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk's deals - two players who crucially want to stay at Anfield - there will be uproar.

Liverpool fans blame Trent for this one. They will blame FSG if the other two go.

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

Newcastle want to bring Liverpool and England centre-back Jarell Quansah, 22, to St James' Park this summer and hope a £30m bid will tempt the Premier League leaders to sell. (Times - subscription required), external

Meanwhile, the Magpies have paused contract talks with Liverpool and Arsenal target Alexander Isak after the Sweden striker, 25, turned down their initial offer. (Caught Offside), external

Bournemouth will meet this week to discuss the futures of 21-year-old Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo, 25, amid interest from Liverpool. (Teamtalk), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

While Trent Alexander-Arnold's impact and influence on Liverpool is clear, the levels of what the Reds could be losing may not be as high as many might think.

That is because Liverpool might have already seen the best of the 26-year-old.

Alexander-Arnold's attacking output is something that has been very rarely - if ever - seen from a right-back.

Across all competitions since making his debut under Jurgen Klopp in the League Cup in October 2016, the England international has played 349 games, scored 22 goals and provided 87 assists.

In that time he has also ranked first among his team-mates in the Premier League for crosses, chances created, touches and successful passes.

However, how those goals and assists have been distributed season by season shows an interesting trend.

Understandably, his first two seasons in the senior team saw his lowest output for goal contributions as he found his way into the first team. But, 2018-19 to 21-22 saw three of the full-back's best seasons in terms of goals and assists.

The Covid season of 2020-21 is a noticeable outlier among those four campaigns, but that drop-off does correlate with a dip in performance for Liverpool as a whole after winning the Premier League the year before.

From 2022, a more gradual decline becomes apparent.

As shown in the above graph, there has been an overall downward trend in Alexander-Arnold's goal contributions per game since his peak campaigns.

With a realistic possibility that the academy graduate may have played his last game for the club already given his current injury, 2024-25 would be his lowest for goal contributions per game since that difficult 2020-21 season.

According to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, Real Madrid's pursuit of Alexander-Arnold began in 2023, so whether there is an aspect of distraction in the decline in output it is hard to say.

But, at an age where many footballers would be entering their peak years, there is a question whether Alexander-Arnold's have already been seen in a Reds shirt.

• Not a Liverpool fan? Find and follow your club here

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Normally, this potential transfer would be a simple case of allowing Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool contract to run out on 30 June and then Real Madrid would conclude the deal.

But this is no ordinary summer.

World governing body Fifa has changed its rules to allow clubs competing in the Club World Cup to sign players before the tournament, from 1 to 10 June.

That would require Real and Liverpool to strike a deal to allow Alexander-Arnold to complete his switch early and be available for the new, expanded tournament in the United States, which runs from 14 June to 13 July.

Alternatively, Real could wait and register Alexander-Arnold mid-tournament, when clubs are allowed to change their squads in a short window between 27 June and 3 July.

Josh Sexton
Fan writer

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This week's update on Trent Alexander-Arnold's potential move to Real Madrid has confirmed a lot of Liverpool fans' long-held fears - that the player seemingly wants to go and it's not just his potential future employers playing their usual transfer games out in the media.

The reports have not come as a huge shock, but they are no less disappointing to read. He's a local lad who, to this point, has made it clear he had aspirations of captaining the club he supports, a one-club man and all at a club where - in his own words - it meant more to win trophies because of how his employers operate compared to their rivals.

Now, with the prospect of cashing out on his childhood dreams in favour of being part of "a machine that's built to win" - again, his own words, but about Manchester City - it is no surprise that fans are not showing a lot of desire to hear the logical arguments around a move that admittedly can make sense once emotions are put to one side

Yet Trent's Liverpool career has in many ways been built on emotion so far and he has benefited from the buy-in of the fans, so it should not be a shock to him if those same fans have an emotional reaction to what is seemingly an aspirational U-turn - especially when, crucially, his boyhood club gets nothing tangible in return for his departure.

However, Liverpool supporters will not let it overshadow what they are set to go on to achieve this season. While his legacy as a fan favourite is likely damaged beyond repair now, we can all see that there is a more important task at hand here for our club and that is bigger than one man.

Reds have seen heroes leave in the past and bounced back - and the same will be true this time around.

• Not a Liverpool fan? Find and follow your club here

See more from Josh Sexton at The Anfield Wrap, external

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Since his debut in December 2016, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been integral to the way Liverpool play.

Sure, he has played the second-most amount of minutes in the Premier League, behind only Mohamed Salah, but his impact within that is undeniable.

A few metrics to illustrate:

• Total shots – he is fourth behind only storied strike trio Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane;

• Chances created - he has made 514, three more than Salah;

• Combined goals and assists - once again, he is fourth behind the above three;

• Crosses - this is partly because he is top ranked for corners, but it is hardly surprising to see him and Andy Robertson miles clear of anyone else;

• Touches - his 22,180 are clear of Robertson (20,855) and Virgil van Dijk (20,430), with no-one else even close for Liverpool.

And that is just on the ball.

Alexander-Arnold's defending has, rightly, been scrutinised throughout his time at the club, with his on-ball abilities being offered up as mitigation for perceived weakness in defence.

One area where he has impressed has been interceptions, a nod perhaps to his excellent football brain.

Notching up 307, he is far above Van Dijk (248), with no other player managing more than 200 in the same time.

He is also joint-fourth for blocks (42), behind only Van Dijk (112), Joel Matip (60) and Joe Gomez (45) over the same time period.

However, in the spirit of balance, all of Alexander-Arnold's defensive rankings should be revealed.

He does feature at the top of some other metrics - and ones that are not as desirable.

• Dribbled past by opposition - this was made public when Manchester City's Jeremy Doku gave him the runaround in February, albeit with no end product. Similarly...

• Tackles lost - no other Liverpool player has been beaten in a tackle as many times as Alexander-Arnold (147, second is 136);

• Errors leading to shots - only four of his mistakes have ended in goals, but 18 bringing about shots is Liverpool's second highest in the past eight years, behind goalkeeper Alisson.

Taking the good with the bad has been part of the Alexander-Arnold journey at Liverpool and, despite the above, it is hard to argue he has been anything other than an extraordinary positive at Anfield.

Finding someone to replace his output could well be the next conundrum for Arne Slot and Liverpool fans to deal with.

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What Trent Alexander-Arnold represents to Liverpool fans has been shown by the strength of feeling in response to the news Real Madrid are in talks over finalising his signing on a free transfer this summer.

As an academy product who joined the club aged six and has gone on to win every major honour available, the fact Alexander-Arnold appears set to exit without bringing in any transfer fee has split the fanbase.

Alexander-Arnold is the vice-captain and has spoken about his dreams of skippering the side in the future, but angered some supporters when he said he would rather win a Ballon d'Or than another Champions League, external with the Reds in October.

However, there are large sections of fans who understand his want for a new challenge and the lure of playing for Spanish giants Real, and are grateful for all he has achieved as a local lad at Anfield.

Below, we show the differing opinions on the move from those who care the most...

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Here are some of your more damning comments on what this could mean for Trent Alexander-Arnold's Anfield legacy:

Rob: Trent has got his big move but it has all gone to his big head. He is not half the player Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk are in terms of contribution to LFC. His potential legacy is dust. His mate Jude Bellingham has persuaded him to go. We will be better without him as a team and club. As previous departures, he will regret it.

Rory: It completely tarnishes his image. He was supposed to follow in Steven Gerrard's footsteps and become the captain, a Liverpool icon. Instead, he has decided to pursue personal glory and made a mockery of his previous declarations of loyalty. To top it all off, he hasn't even done right by the club in making sure they get a fee out of him. Selfish and very disappointing.

Costas: TAA could have handled his probable exit better. Sign a new deal, put a transfer clause and let Real Madrid pay for the transfer. If he leaves for free and pockets a big signing-on fee his legacy is over. Good player but not irreplaceable.

Keith: I'm just wondering what colour we should paint the wall where his mural is painted. Any legacy as a Liverpool legend was tenuous in the first place, but he isn't good enough as a defender to achieve that anyway.

Jay: Trent leaving on a free is pure, selfish greed. Sign a three-year extension and at the point where there's one year left ask to leave. Real would still want him in two years. Saying he would prefer the Ballon d'or over another Champions League title with us is selfish nonsense. Leaving before he is made captain is a sign that he doesn't deserve to be captain. Where is the leadership or commitment to the club? You want it or you don't, lad.

Richard: It isn't that he wants to leave - what hurts the most is that he has run down his contract to go for free. A player who not all that long ago wanted to become club captain and now doesn't seem to care we won't even get a fee to help replace him.

Josh: It does significant damage to his legacy. He will not win a Ballon d'Or with Madrid as he will never be the star. He will be the one providing Kylian Mbappe, Bellingham and Vini Jr. What sticks the most is that he has the opportunity to be the star with us! We are potentially on the cusp of something really special.

Mike: I'm not upset with TAA because he wants to leave, but rather the manner in which he has handled it. He dragged it out so he could leave on a free. He played the club out! Dishonourable! I'll be happy to see his back.

• Not a Liverpool fan? Find and follow your team on BBC Sport here

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Here are some of your more favourable comments about Trent Alexander-Arnold's potential Real Madrid move:

Arthur: I've been going to Anfield since dad took me to the Kop in 1963. We've always had legendary players who leave, possibly before their time. I wish him well, his cheeky corner to Divock Origi against Barcelona epitomised Trent's skill, ingenuity and freedom. We've an academy contingent coming through - can't wait. As ever, we'll find the most difficult, white knuckle way of achieving our goals. YNWA!

Andrew: Football is ruthless. Fans are fickle. Owners are mercenary. Why should players sacrifice themselves for either of them?

Duncan: TAA has done it all for Liverpool - won the lot. He is still an ambitious, talented young man and has every right to go and challenge himself elsewhere. I am gutted to see him go but, as always, we will find another... if we haven't already in Conor Bradley. Good luck, Trent - a Liverpool legend!

Taylor: I suspect this move is an indicator of the lack of ambition from FSG. There is little doubt it would have been laid on thick for TAA with a whopper contract and promises about future plans. My guess is those plans were unimpressive - and didn't include Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk. As much as I wish he was staying, I can't blame Trent for jumping ship if those two are leaving on a free as well! I know a lot of fans are going after Trent for this, but in my eyes the club are primarily responsible.

Bob: Follow your dream. You won't be the first LFC player to go to Madrid. You've won everything here so time to move on. Pity we didn't offer you a new contract before now, though.

David: If a different employer offers you amazing money to do your job elsewhere, who are we to judge a young man who wants to better himself?

Jason: When Jordan Henderson left, Trent should have been made captain. When they gave it to Virgil the club has disrespected him. It's the worst insult - when it is your dream and all they give you is the vice-captain job!

Alex: Trent wants to try something different having won everything at LFC and who can blame him? You only get one career. Would be sad to also see VVD and Mo go when they've said they want to stay, but football is a business - players rise and fall and new ones come. You can see why the club might be keen to cut a few big salaries to finance some up-and-coming talent.

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Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander just "wants to come out of his comfort zone", says Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

It was revealed on Tuesday that La Liga giants Real Madrid are in talks over finalising a move for the 26-year-old in the summer when his contract runs out.

After saying in an interview in October that he would rather win a Ballon d'Or, external than another Champions League with Liverpool, many believed Alexander-Arnold was looking to make the move to Real.

"This transfer started, really, in 2023 when Real Madrid - in their new policy of recruitment - identified him as potentially one of best right-backs in the world because of his finishing," Balague told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"They tried to sign him in January but Liverpool didn't entertain the idea and Real Madrid were hoping he would not renew his contract.

"The appeal of Real Madrid is huge for Trent in his battle to become the best right-back in the world and a Ballon d'Or contender.

"It's not that he wants to win it, it's just that he wants to fight to win it, which is quite different. He feels by becoming a regular at Real Madrid it brings him closer to that dream of the Ballon d'Or.

"This is a Liverpool boy who wants to come out of his comfort zone and, in my eyes, that is really something to admire."

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Should Trent Alexander-Arnold join Real Madrid, he would emulate Steve McManaman, who also moved from Anfield to the Bernabeu on a free transfer in 1999.

"If he does choose to go to Real Madrid and he does choose to forge a new adventure with a new language and a new lifestyle, all credit to him," McManaman told BBC Sport.

"It is a fantastic opportunity for him, if he does go, and no doubt he will be a superstar there as well."

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and top scorer Mohamed Salah are also out of contract at the end of the season, but McManaman thinks a homegrown player like Alexander-Arnold leaving for free would be viewed differently by supporters.

"It's unfair [to expect homegrown players to commit to one club for their entire career]. If Van Dijk or Salah leave, then it it is Liverpool's fault. If Trent was to leave, then it is Trent's fault," he added.

While Conor Bradley has proven a reliable replacement when called upon in the past two seasons, McManaman believes Alexander-Arnold would leave a "considerable hole" at Liverpool.

"[Bradley is] a completely different player to Trent Alexander-Arnold," he said.

"Trent's numbers in an attacking sense are absolutely fantastic, but Liverpool fans and everybody will hope that Conor Bradley will be able to fill that void.

"You have a standard level and, every year, you try to improve and get better and better.

"We all hope that Conor Bradley achieves that and becomes the superstar that people are talking about when they talk about Trent Alexander-Arnold."

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"Trent Alexander-Arnold has said so many times that he wanted to finish his career at Liverpool but something changed this year and he picked wanting to win the Ballon d'Or rather than achievements with Liverpool."

That is the view of Liverpool fan Abigail Rudkin, who believes the pursuit of individual honours may have turned Alexander-Arnold's head towards Real Madrid.

"I thought in that moment it changed a bit to the Trent Alexander-Arnold show - looking after himself and what he can achieve," added Rudkin. "I think he feels he can win the Ballon d'Or at Madrid.

"As a Liverpool fan you're just devastated... but he has won everything there is to win at Liverpool.

"We are all living vicariously through Trent and now [it looks like] he has decided Madrid is the new dream. That's why we're all gutted."

What do you think about Alexander-Arnold looking set to leave? Do you understand it as a new challenge or would an exit in this way damage his Anfield legacy?

Have your say here