Match of the Day favourite makes Trent Alexander-Arnold claim Liverpool fans won't like

Liverpool icon Mark Lawrenson has predicted that Trent Alexander-Arnold will be donning the Real Madrid jersey by the start of the next season. Despite Liverpool's solid start to the current season, there is a sense of unease at Anfield as the contracts of three key players - Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold - are set to expire at the end of this season.

If Arne Slot and his team fail to secure new contracts for these stars, they could potentially depart on a free transfer. The trio have been instrumental in Liverpool's success, with ten appearances in PFA Teams of the Year and four PFA Player of the Year awards between them.

They also played pivotal roles in Liverpool's 2019 Champions League victory and their historic league campaign the following season. However, Liverpool supporters may be concerned by Lawrenson's prediction.

Speaking to Sports Casting, the former Liverpool defender expressed his belief that Alexander-Arnold, who rose through the ranks from the academy to stardom, would likely join Real Madrid in the summer. "I can see him being attracted to playing at Real Madrid", the ex-Match of the Day pundit speculated.

"He has an England team-mate in Jude Bellingham there and I can see him playing for them next season," reports the Mirror. Lawrenson, a key figure in Liverpool's dominant side of the late 1970s, voiced concerns over the player's loyalty, remarking: "If you really wanted to stay at Liverpool, then would you not have signed your contract by now?"

While it's clear there could be numerous reasons for delaying a contract signing, the Anfield camp has kept quiet on why they haven't yet secured their star full-back. Just like countless Reds supporters, Lawrenson is mindful that losing their vice-captain would be a bitter blow, due to the sheer challenge of finding an equivalent replacement.

He waxed lyrical about the right-back's quality, saying: "I think Trent Alexander-Arnold is most definitely up there with the best Premier League right backs of all time when he's in full flow," and continued to laud his offensive prowess: "I don't think I've ever seen a better right back in terms of delivering the ball to players."

Lawrenson conceded the England international has room to enhance his defensive game but he stressed that his offensive capabilities heavily outweigh any defences. "He probably isn't among the best defenders in the world, but it doesn't really matter because he just sees passes that other players can't that ball into Mohamed Salah in the first game of the season against Ipswich was unbelievable."