Liverpool might need to prepare for a future without Trent Alexander-Arnold. After his ankle injury against Paris Saint-Germain, there`s speculation building that he could move to Real Madrid. For Liverpool`s management, the best outcome is that his absence is short-term.
Alexander-Arnold`s contract is running out in just over three months. While Liverpool might consider different contract terms for other players over 30 like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, extending Alexander-Arnold`s contract should be a priority unless his demands are unreasonable. He`s only 26, the team`s vice-captain, and a local player who`s been with Liverpool since he was six years old.
He`s also incredibly hard to replace. If Alexander-Arnold goes to Real Madrid, there isn`t another player quite like him readily available. Any player who comes close to his abilities would cost Liverpool a lot of money, and they could lose Alexander-Arnold without getting a transfer fee. There`s a small chance Real Madrid could try to sign him early if FIFA opens the transfer window early for Club World Cup teams, which would give Liverpool a small fee before his contract ends on June 30.
To see how important Alexander-Arnold is, look at this list of players with more assists than him (38) in league and European games since the 2021-22 season: Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, Florian Wirtz, Vinicius Junior, Bruno Fernandes, Thomas Muller, Bukayo Saka, Julian Brandt, Kylian Mbappe, Rafael Leao. Alexander-Arnold`s attacking output isn`t just great for a defender; it`s 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, passes the ball into the final third more often. Alexander-Arnold is among the top players in Europe in progressive passes, expected possession value, chances created, and big chances created. He`s one of the best crossers in football, a set-piece expert who would fit well with Real Madrid`s history of players like Roberto Carlos, David Beckham, and Toni Kroos.
This season might seem a bit quieter for Alexander-Arnold, as he`s been used slightly more cautiously by the coach. 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.
He would likely do very well in a Real Madrid team that usually dominates matches. His defensive weaknesses have been pointed out at Liverpool, and top left wingers can cause him problems. But at Real Madrid, he`d be playing alongside some of the best defenders in the world. Liverpool`s previous coach, Jurgen Klopp, found ways to let Alexander-Arnold attack freely, and Real Madrid`s coaches could also find similar solutions. They already have the players, like mobile center-backs and defensive midfielders, to support his attacking style.
For Liverpool, finding a replacement will be very difficult. They might find midfielders or full-backs who can progress the ball, but they won`t easily replace his final-third creativity. To get that kind of attacking output, they`d need a very dynamic full-back, and it`s hard to find someone who can control a game from the right side like Alexander-Arnold.
There was a time when Reece James looked like a potential rival to Alexander-Arnold as the world`s best right-back, but his demanding role at Chelsea has taken a toll. The closest comparison to Alexander-Arnold, who might be available, is Pedro Porro from Tottenham. However, Tottenham would likely ask for a high transfer fee, and Porro isn`t quite at Alexander-Arnold`s level.
Liverpool does have a promising young right-back in Conor Bradley. When Bradley has been fit, there has been talk that he could replace Alexander-Arnold. Bradley is clearly talented at just 21, and since the current coach wants to strengthen the attack, using Bradley could be a cost-effective way to replace Alexander-Arnold if he leaves for free.
However, Liverpool would still have a significant gap to fill. They would be losing a player who creates 1.2 chances per 90 minutes, has 0.17 xA, makes 10 passes (seven into the attacking third), and provides many other high-level attacking contributions. Only Alexander-Arnold himself can truly replace what he brings. It will take the whole Liverpool team to make up for his potential departure.
