Trent Alexander-Arnold made a talking gesture as he appeared to respond to ongoing speculation surrounding his future after scoring for Liverpool on Sunday night.
The defender grabbed the Reds’ fourth against West Ham United as he fired in from distance, albeit with the ball taking a huge deflection off Max Kilman that wrongfooted Alphonse Areola in the home goal.
As he ran to the corner to celebrate, Alexander-Arnold made the talking sign with his hand, clearly to indicate there are too many reports and rumours regarding his current situation. Spanish outlet Marca claimed on Saturday that he has ‘made it clear’ he wants to Real Madrid in the summer, with AS also reporting the deal is all but done and ‘everything is agreed, pending the signature’.
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However, the Daily Mail later corrected that nothing has been agreed upon between Alexander-Arnold and Real, and the player is in contact only with Liverpool at this stage. Given two days of back-and-forth reporting, perhaps it was no surprise the 26-year-old celebrated so pointedly after netting against West Ham.
Alexander-Arnold’s contract expires this summer and speculation has been rife that he will leave his boyhood club for free, a situation that could also apply to Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. It comes after Jamie Carragher warned Liverpool’s no.66 that fans will struggle to forgive a local lad walking away for nothing.
“It is more than a football decision whether it is money, trophies or your career — it is about his legacy at Liverpool and how he’s seen,” the ex-defender said after Liverpool’s 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
“Does he want to be viewed the way Steven Gerrard is viewed? Or Steve McManaman? I feel for Steve. He went to Real Madrid, won a couple of European Cups, but he is not loved by Liverpool fans.”
Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold’s goal at the London Stadium was his first under Arne Slot, in his 23rd appearance of the season. The confident win against West Ham also moved Liverpool eight points clear of second-place Nottingham Forest, although the Reds have a game in hand on the chasing pack.
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