Jamie Carragher is not afraid to speak his mind - even if it means upsetting fans of his old club.

The former Liverpool defender has ruffled the feathers of supporters recently with his thoughts on Mohamed Salah, and the Egyptian’s decision to speak out on his contract situation. Since then, there are a lot of fans who seem ready to pounce on anything Carragher says.

Whether you like it or not, he was right about Salah being selfish by calling out the lack of a contract offer - but then, he was probably well within his rights to be selfish. And Carragher is spot on again with his take on another of Liverpool’s contract sagas.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future remains up in the air as we await a decision on his future. In fact, there are plenty of people resigned to the idea of him moving to Real Madrid, and considering he can negotiate a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in just eight days, his decision could be made very soon.

He has been sent a warning by Carragher though, who insists that a move to the Bernabeu could damage Alexander-Arnold’s relationship with the fans of his hometown club.

“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 46-year-old said on Sky Sports.

“Does he want to be seen how Steven Gerrard is seen? Or Steve McManaman? I feel for Steve. He went to Real Madrid and won a couple of European Cups, but he is not adored by Liverpool fans.

“If I was advising Trent, a lot of it is to do with the free transfer. It is that feeling that you are leaving us for nothing, ‘where is our money to replace you?’. I would say, sign a contract, have a decent buyout clause and if Real want to buy you in 12 months…"

Carragher was quickly interrupted by fellow former Red Jamie Redknapp, who insisted that Alexander-Arnold shouldn’t be begrudged the opportunity to move to Madrid.

“He has got an opportunity for a five-year deal or whatever at Real and try something different," Redknapp said. "I have total respect for whatever it is he wants to do because he has given everything to Liverpool.”

Out of the two Jamies, it is the former who has read this situation correctly. Yes, some - if not a lot - of the blame should be laid at FSG’s door if Alexander-Arnold does move to Madrid for free next summer.

But this is a two-way street, and if the 26-year-old does want to stay at Anfield, then the opportunity is there to make himself a legend. Leaving the club that made you the player you are for absolutely nothing would undoubtedly leave a bitter taste for fans.

Liverpool is embarking on a new era under Arne Slot, and the Reds could well be in a position to take the Premier League by storm. Manchester City looks like it will need a rebuild, and you can’t imagine Pep Guardiola will stay beyond the end of his new two-year contract - he might be tempted to call it quits pretty soon if things keep going the way they are at the Etihad.

That leaves the door open for a side like Liverpool to take on the mantel and become England’s dominant force. As the heir to Virgil van Dijk’s captain’s armband, surely Alexander-Arnold would relish being the man who leads the Reds to a new era of glory.

He has, after all, suggested that the prospect of winning trophies is what will decide his future. He will undoubtedly do that in Madrid, but it’s now looking even more likely at Anfield, and having had to watch on as City claimed title after title at Liverpool’s expense, wouldn’t that mean even more to him?

We’ll have to wait and see what decision Alexander-Arnold makes, but moving to Madrid may not be the best call for him. And if he does leave Anfield, he certainly shouldn’t expect all fans to be happy for him.