Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has accused Trent Alexander-Arnold's representatives of trying to "cover themselves" ahead of their client potentially leaving Anfield on a free transfer.

The Reds academy graduate's future with his boyhood club is uncertain as he prepares to enter the final six months of his current contract. The 26-year-old will be within his rights to speak with foreign suitors from Jan. 1 onwards and has been linked with a switch to Real Madrid in recent times.

The European champions' interest in the Alexander-Arnold's services was confirmed when it was revealed that they had made an offer to sign the right-back in January, according to The Mirror. However, that approach was reportedly rejected by Anfield chiefs as Arne Slot sets his sights on a tilt at Premier League title glory.

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Either way, Kop hero Carragher has now issued a stern response to the emergence of this news, as he accused Alexander-Arnold's camp of being aware that Madrid would bid for the full-back. The leading pundit was left irked by the circumstances surrounding the offer - especially with a clash against arch-rivals Manchester United coming up for the Reds in the coming days.

Liverpool currently leads the Premier League after 18 games played, boasting an eight-point advantage of second-placed Nottingham Forest with a game in hand. With this in mind, Carragher asserted: "The most important thing for LFC in 2025 is winning the Premier League. No one’s contract or future should come in the way of that!

"I love Trent as a lad and a player, but his team would’ve told Real Madrid to bid and also would’ve known LFC would turn it down," he claimed, before firing an accusation towards Alexander-Arnold's representatives, adding: "It’s to try and cover themselves when he leaves for free. Again it’s something the club/fans don’t need with a huge game coming up."

This is not the first time that Carragher has spoken on the issue, with the Sky Sports analyst having predicted that a move to Real Madrid could prove controversial for the defender. He said in his column for the Telegraph: "That is the biggest issue for Trent – the free transfer.

"As with [Steve McManaman], the supporters will feel that the club are losing an £80 million player for nothing, and they will not like it. My advice to Trent would be to sign a new deal, with a reasonable buyout clause, that will give the club some value if Real or anyone else decide to meet it."

Carragher is not the only former Reds player who has commented on the situation surrounding the future of the homegrown star either. Ex-Reds striker Michael Owen also waded into the discourse surrounding the Alexander-Arnold's situation, as he expressed the belief that "talks" will have taken place between the player's camp and Madrid chiefs.

He said: "The very fact that Real Madrid have now made their intentions clear towards signing Trent Alexander Arnold leads me to believe that it’s only a matter of time before he signs for them. If he was going to sign a contract extension, Madrid wouldn’t have officially made their move. Secretive talks will have taken place. Huge news."