Liverpool legend John Arne Riise believes Trent Alexander-Arnold deserves respect whatever he chooses to do regarding his future.

The right-back is the subject of strong interest from Real Madrid ahead of his contract at Anfield expiring at the end of the season.

Madrid made an approach to sign Alexander-Arnold during the January transfer window but was met with a swift rejection, with the Reds unwilling to sell mid-season despite the guarantee of receiving a transfer fee for a player who looks set to leave for nothing in the summer.

Despite concerns from some former Reds — namely Jamie Carragher — that Alexander-Arnold's legacy would be affected by a move to Madrid, Riise thinks his legendary status at the club will remain unchanged.

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“It's difficult because you have to realise as a player, you want everything," in an exclusive interview with Oddspedia, while speaking on behalf of bet365. "Yes you want to be looked at as a legend, but he will be a legend no matter what happens because of what he's done and where he came from, winning everything.

“However, players do sometimes need another challenge and to go to Real Madrid or Barcelona, that might be somebody's dream from a young age, so people have to realise it's not because he doesn't like Liverpool, it's just that it's a short career.

“He might want another challenge and you have to respect that. A few weeks ago I was sure he was going to leave, I'm not so sure now because it takes time but hopefully he will stay for the sake of the quality he has.

“A big miss would be Trent Alexander-Arnold’s positioning, when you watch him play he plays at right back but he's more like a 70 feet player, he goes forward as a winger.

“Offensive qualities are his main quality, he sees a pass that nobody else sees, he can cross the ball like nobody else can cross, he can shoot, take set pieces and I also think he's improved defensively, he is so important.

“Liverpool don't have that type of player in the team at the moment and I don't think there's anybody like him in the world either, hopefully he will stay.”