Kewell: Alexander-Arnold has earned the right to choose his own path

Trent Alexander-Arnold has “earned the right” to prosecute a caller situation distant from Liverpool, truthful says Harry Kewell.

Alexander-Arnold’s declaration expires astatine the extremity of June, and helium announced connected Monday that helium volition beryllium leaving Liverpool.

The 26-year-old joined Liverpool’s academy successful 2004 and roseate done the ranks earlier making his first-team debut nether Jurgen Klopp successful 2016.

He has since amassed 352 appearances for the Reds successful each competitions, scoring 23 goals and registering an awesome 92 assists.

A cardinal fig successful the broadside that ended Liverpool’s 30-year hold for a league title, Alexander-Arnold has won 2 Premier League titles and a Champions League crown successful his 9 years with the elder team.

Kewell, who was portion of the Liverpool broadside that won the Champions League successful 2005, believes Alexander-Arnold should not beryllium faulted for choosing to permission the club.

“I’m astir apt not going to triumph a batch of fans implicit for this, but I deliberation Trent has done astonishing things astatine Liverpool,” Kewell told Stats Perform.

“To triumph virtually everything imaginable – that’s phenomenal. If helium present wants a caller challenge, if that’s the way helium chooses, past just play to him.

“I recognize the vexation from fans, but he’s achieved everything with Liverpool. He’s allowed to deliberation astir his ain way now.

“And if that means going overseas to situation himself again, truthful beryllium it. He’s earned that right.”

“I privation to accidental it’s not an casual determination and there’s a batch of thought and feeling that has gone into it. I’ve been present 20 years now, loved each azygous infinitesimal of it, achieved each my dreams, achieved everything I’ve ever wanted to here.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s interrogation

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 5, 2025

Alexander-Arnold has been heavy linked with a determination to Real Madrid, and Kewell acknowledged the magnitude of the step.

“Liverpool are 1 of the biggest clubs successful the world, but he’s not going to a smaller nine – he’s going to Real Madrid,” helium said.

“That’s a nine with conscionable arsenic overmuch expectation. The unit determination volition beryllium huge, but he’s utilized to that.

“The unit of playing astatine Anfield is massive. I retrieve erstwhile I played, opponents utilized to dread coming to Anfield. They’d beryllium like, ‘Oh my God, the unit is excessively much.’

“He’s lived that. He’s earned the close to take his adjacent step.

“And we each cognize what he’s susceptible of. His passing scope is phenomenal. I’ve said it before: he’s astir apt 1 of the champion crossers we’ve ever seen successful the Premier League.”

Indeed, Alexander-Arnold’s passing prowess has drawn wide acclaim. He leaves Anfield having registered much assists (64) than immoderate different defender successful Premier League history.

In fact, lone Leighton Baines (85) has much extremity contributions among defenders successful the English top-flight than Alexander-Arnold (82), though the England international’s defending has astatine times been called into question.

Speaking connected Alexander-Arnold’s antiaircraft abilities, Kewell added: “Yes, there’s a trade-off. Defensively, he’s not a earthy defender, but what helium gives you successful onslaught is outstanding.

“And he’s been capable to bash that successful portion due to the fact that he’s had idiosyncratic similar Virgil van Dijk down him – arguably the champion defender the Premier League has seen. That gives him the state to propulsion guardant and power games.”