Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport/CameraSport via Getty Images

News

HomeNewsLiverpoolEnglish Premier League

Gary Lineker says how he honestly feels about Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid

Lucas Arnold

Mon 31 March 2025 8:35, UK

After recent revelations, Liverpool are perhaps already planning for life after Trent Alexander-Arnold under Arne Slot next season.

Liverpool want to h📖an🐓d Conor Bradley a new contract very soon, a ꦺ🅰youngster who will now play an increased role under Slot moving forwards.

Richardꦉ Hughes and his team are expected to make a new signing at right-back, but they ꦬwill compete with Bradley rather than arriving strictly as first-choice.

That being said, Liverpool might ac🦩tually consider a Tottenham full-bacꦫk as a smart Alexander-Arnold alternative, one of very few players who can get close to the Englishman’s creativity as 🦩a defender.

And perhaps Liverpool’s defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final best delineated why a traditꩵional full-back coming in wouldn’t suffice – Slot’s team missed Alexander-Arnold’s creativity.

Gary Lineker explains why Trent Alexander-Arnold is making the right decision

That being said, Gary Lineker 🦄gave his thoughts on Alexander-Arnold’s potential departure to Real Madrid on ‘The Rest Is Footbal༺l’ podcast.

Lineker confessed that he thought the move could be ‘absolutely brilliant’ for the Liverpool man, 🦋who won’t be so sorely critiqued for his lacklustre defending at times.

Lineker said: “It looks like it might happen♉, but it’s not, we’re not sure yet. There’s obviously been an approach and he’s had a bit of stick from Liverpool fans and stuff.

“And it’s, I don’t mind saying, I think it would be an absolutely fabulous move for him. I think t𓆉o pl🍸ay for Real Madrid is something that is very difficult to turn down. 

READ MORE: Liverpool think they’ve just secured ‘exc🐻eptional’ star as thei🌺r first summer signing for Arne Slot

“He’s been at Liverpool since he was a kid. It transcends him into a kind of another level when you’re playinℱg for a club like that.

“I think it will be absolutely brilli🌌ant for him. He’s their sort of player because they like to see beautiful football and attacking football. He’s🍌 one of the best passes of the ball in the world’s game.

“We tend to focus in this country a little bit on the negative or the kind of weaknes𓃲s in a player’s game.

“Whereas ove🌠r there, from my experience, they ꦑgenerally just focus on what you’re good at. So I think that will probably go away.

“I think it’s got to the stage now with the defending aspe🌠ct of it, where if a winger goes past him, he gಌets stick.

“Now wingers go past full backs all the time, but nobody ever says anything. Now I know he’s not a great defender, but you can’t be🦋 great at everything.

“So it will be fascinating to see if it happens🍌. I suspect it probably will. And I🍌 hope the Liverpool fans give him a really good send off, because I think for what he’s done for the club, he deserves it.”

Can Conor Bradley replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool?

As mentioned, Bradley would provide a very differen🎀t skillset to Alexander-Arnol💯d next season were he to be promoted to first choice.

Although, that’s not necessarily to say that Slot’s side would be hurt offensively – Bradley still boasts impressꦯive numbers himself going forward when given a chanc🧸e this season.

Of course, it would🎉 make for a more accurate comparison had the duo played a similar amount of games.

And🍸 in addition, it should be recognised that Bradley🔯’s minutes have often come in very different circumstances to Alexander-Arnold’s – he’s often playing as a substitute for 20 minutes at the end of matches.

But ei💜ther way,🍸 there’s certainly still reason to be optimistic regarding how Liverpool can react to Alexander-Arnold’s exit.

That being said, Liverpool have i﷽dentified one possible Alexander-Arnold replacement.