Premier League champions Liverpool are preparing to bid farewell to one of their most iconic players, with Trent Alexander-Arnold set to leave the club at the end of the season. Manager Arne Slot expressed his disappointment on Friday but insisted that the club is well-prepared for life after the England international, who has been at Anfield since the age of six.
Alexander-Arnold departs as one of the most decorated full-backs in Liverpool’s history, having won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, Club World Cup, FA Cup, and League Cup. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash with second-placed Arsenal, Slot paid tribute to both the player and the person.
“Like everyone who loves Liverpool, we’re disappointed. A good human is leaving the club, but also a very, very, very good fullback,” Slot told reporters. “But I’ve worked at clubs like AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord where key players left regularly. This club is no stranger to that either—when one good player goes, another often steps up.”
While many have tipped 21-year-old Conor Bradley to fill Alexander-Arnold’s boots, Slot cautioned against rushing the comparison. “Let’s not compare him with Trent just yet. They are different types of players. But we’ve all seen Conor’s potential. The next step is staying fit week in, week out.”
Bradley’s development has been hampered by injuries this season, including a thigh problem that sidelined him for nearly six weeks earlier in the year. Despite that, Slot confirmed the young Northern Irishman will start against Arsenal. “He needs minutes under his belt to prepare for next season, and this is a good opportunity.”
As for Sunday’s showdown, Slot expects a competitive match, even with the title already wrapped up. “It’s hard to predict. Arsenal still have something to play for—top four and maybe finishing second. We can only finish first, but both teams will want to put on a show.”
Arsenal, who were eliminated from the Champions League semi-finals by PSG earlier this week, currently sit second—15 points behind Liverpool, but three clear of Manchester City and four ahead of Newcastle and Chelsea in the race for the remaining Champions League spots.
