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Hello. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision has been made. We’re bringing you the breaking news of his confirmed Liverpool departure.
On the way:
🔴 Inside Trent’s departure
🏆 Kane toasts a first major trophy
👀 A topsy-turvy top-five race
🧱 Ref debut ended by ‘brick wall’
Alexander-Arnold says goodbye to Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 20-year association with Liverpool will come to an end in the summer.
The 26-year-old’s anticipated departure has been confirmed eight days after winning a second Premier League title with his boyhood club. The bright lights of Real Madrid are calling.
As James Pearce and Mario Cortegana write, it was the biggest decision of his life.
What he told Slot ahead of his decision
Allowing a valuable, homegrown player to leave the club on a free transfer as he approaches the best years of his career is nightmare scenario territory when it comes to running a football club.
Alexander-Arnold entering the final two years of his contract in the summer of 2023 coincided with a period of upheaval behind the scenes at Liverpool, with no long-term sporting director in place.
(Michael Regan/Getty Images; design: John Bradford)
Klopp’s bombshell announcement in January 2024 that he would be departing the club, as well as the subsequent search for his successor, meant contract talks with Alexander-Arnold took a back seat until April 2024.
Alexander-Arnold will tread the same path as Steve McManaman and Michael Owen in swapping Liverpool for Madrid. As runaway Premier League champions, Alexander-Arnold leaves a very different Liverpool to the one his predecessors did.
His decision to depart was complicated further by the relationship he formed with new head coach Arne Slot, who he holds in the highest regard. However, having achieved everything he could have dreamed of at Liverpool, the England full-back felt it was time for a new challenge to unlock his full potential. He informed Slot of his decision in March.
Conor Bradley has proved a capable deputy over the past two seasons, but Andy Jones and Mark Carey have already assessed how else Liverpool can replace him.
Why Real Madrid want him
Tempting world-class players to the Bernabeu at the end of their contract has become trademark Madrid — just ask Kylian Mbappe. The Spanish giants have been confident of completing Alexander-Arnold’s signing since November and a six-year deal is in the works.
Madrid have not strengthened at right-back since 2019 and Alexander-Arnold freshens up a position where Dani Carvajal, 33, is sidelined with a long-term knee injury and Lucas Vazquez, 33, has deputised this season.
Madrid can be an unforgiving environment, but having written a perfect ending at Liverpool, it’s time for Alexander-Arnold’s next instalment.
News Round-Up 🗞️
Top-five contenders slip up in the Premier League
The Premier League’s top five race is seemingly the one that no one wants to win.
Arsenal have had second place in the bag all season, but Saturday’s defeat by Bournemouth means they have won just one of their last five in the top flight. Arteta expressed “anger, rage and frustration” at full time after his side let a 1-0 lead slip — that’s now 21 points dropped from winning positions this season.
Newcastle United also dropped points at Brighton & Hove Albion despite being awarded three penalties (OK, two were then overturned by VAR). Still, their comeback draw was a cause for positivity for head coach Eddie Howe and it keeps them above Chelsea — who beat champions Liverpool 3-1 — on goals scored.
Nottingham Forest, who are currently just above Aston Villa, can move level on points with Chelsea and Newcastle should they win at Crystal Palace today. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have chosen the worst possible time to lose three of their last four. Is their surprise Champions League charge simply suffering a wobble, or is it something more severe?
Around The Athletic FC 🔄
Quiz Answer ‼️
On Friday, we asked you to name the seven seasons in which multiple English clubs have won European trophies. Here they are…
1967-68 (Manchester United: European Cup, Leeds United: Inter-Cities Fairs Cup); 1969-70 (Manchester City: Cup Winner’s Cup, Arsenal: Inter-Cities Fairs Cup); 1970-71 (Chelsea: Cup Winner’s Cup, Leeds United: Inter-Cities Fairs Cup); 1980-81 (Liverpool: European Cup, Ipswich Town: UEFA Cup); 1983-84 (Liverpool: European Cup, Tottenham Hotspur: UEFA Cup); 2018-19 (Liverpool: Champions League, Chelsea: Europa League); 2022-23 (Manchester City: Champions League, West Ham United: UEFA Conference League).
Catch A Match 📺
(Selected games, times ET/UK)
Premier League: Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest, 3pm/8pm — USA Network, Fubo/Sky Sports; WSL: Brighton & Hove Albion Women vs Arsenal Women, 11am/4pm — ESPN+/Sky Sports; Serie A: Genoa vs Milan, 2.45pm/7.45pm — Paramount+, Fubo/OneFootball; La Liga: Girona vs Real Mallorca, 3pm/8pm — ESPN+, Fubo/Premier Sports.
And Finally…
(Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
After refereeing more than 500 professional matches, official David Webb took charge of a Premier League game for the first time on Saturday. His debut lasted just 22 minutes after, in Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy’s words, “he hit a brick wall called Jordan Ayew”.
Fortunately, Leicester striker Jamie Vardy was on hand to add another clip to his highlights reel of antics, taking Webb’s hand and blowing his whistle to stop play. Oh Vardy, you will be missed.
(Top photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)