Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has given his take on Trent Alexander-Arnold and the Reds' number 66's contract situation. He believes that the Scouser could be tempted by the possibility of moving to Real Madrid, with the 26-year-old able to speak with clubs abroad about a free transfer next summer from January 1, which is now just 12 days away.

"The big question that faces Trent now is how much he values his legacy as a Liverpool great, and how he wants to be remembered in the many years that follow the short career of a professional footballer," Carragher writes in the Daily Telegraph.

"It was not so much [Steve McManaman's] departure that damaged his legacy at Liverpool as the fact that the club earned no fee on a player who had for years been one of the Premier League’s best attacking midfielders. Macca won two Champions Leagues at Real, having never played in the competition with Liverpool before then. He will have been one of the best-paid players of his era.

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"But when he comes back to Anfield now as a fan or a pundit, he does not get the love from the Liverpool fans that is shown towards our teammate Robbie Fowler. That might be the emotion and the irrationality of Liverpool fans but it is all worth considering for Trent."

Alexander-Arnold captained Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and has made no secret of his ambition to do that more regularly in the future. But unless there is a breakthrough in negotiations over a new deal, he will be leaving at the end of the year with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk in the same position.

"My instinct is that Trent fancies a change," Carragher continued. "He does not live on Merseyside, as is the case with many of the team, and he seems to have the taste for something different. That is his prerogative, but it also comes with its price.

"If he leaves for free in the summer, it will be hard for many Liverpool fans to accept the loss of a major asset for nothing. The club is their world, and many of us see no reason why Liverpool could not go on to compete for the very biggest trophies under Arne Slot.

"Of course, life at Real is pretty good too and Trent may well accept the consequences at Liverpool for a move to Madrid. But at heart he is a Liverpool lad, and he will be a long-time retired. For those who stay the course at Liverpool — that love and affection from the fans is for life."

Liverpool.com says: This is definitely something for Alexander-Arnold to consider. He has won everything with Liverpool but this is a new era and he is as likely to win major silverware at Anfield as he would be anywhere else the way things are going. It was reasonable to wait and see what Liverpool looked like under Slot. The answer? Very convincing.