There is plenty of noise surrounding Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contractual stalemate with boyhood club, Liverpool.
The academy graduate could depart Merseyside this summer to join the current European champions, Real Madrid and fellow England teammate, Jude Bellingham, who joined Los Blancos last year.
🚨🚨| Liverpool are beginning to accept that Trent Alexander-Arnold will not sign a new contract and are looking to negotiate a sale to Real Madrid in January.
[@marca] pic.twitter.com/PhNr0F21qQ
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) October 18, 2024
Liverpool’s number 66 has been a fan favourite at Anfield ever since his 2016 debut in red. His departure will be the end of a long line of elite academy graduates with no imminent heir to the full-back’s throne.
Over the years there have been many success stories from the Liverpool academy.
Who are the most successful graduates?
Jamie Carragher
The boy from Bootle originally joined the academy setup in the 1980s and enjoyed an impressive career for the Merseyside outfit. It ultimately ended-up spanning over four different decades.
He is more commonly known for his punditry in the modern day but his footballing career shouldn’t be overlooked. Carragher was a staple in one of Liverpool’s best ever teams. A UCL winner and with 11 major honours during his time at Anfield, he might agree the most memorable was the 2005 Champions League win against AC Milan in Istanbul.
Steven Gerrard
The Whiston-born midfield maestro started his Liverpool journey in 1989. Widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in Premier League history, he is Liverpool’s third highest appearance maker. He also ranks sixth in the Liverpool all-time goalscoring charts with 186 goals.
Similarly to Carragher, the local hero shone brightest in Istanbul, beginning the spirited comeback before captaining the side to Champions League glory. Nine trophies later, he retired a club legend and a fan favourite still to this day.
Robbie Fowler
Over 260 appearances and 120 goals for Toxteth-born Robbie Fowler saw the sharpshooter become a fan favourite in front of the Kop. Despite growing up an Everton fan, the Englishman spent nine-years in the academy before making his debut in 1993.
He won five trophies with the Merseyside club and also played for many other Premier League clubs during his career but found the most success for The Reds.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
He is a player that divides the opinion of so many but one who’s ability can not be overlooked. The West-Derby born star made his debut in 2016 after being apart of the academy system since 2004. He captivates football purists around the globe with his incredible passing ability. He has created a new culture amongst full-backs almost revolutionising the modern game.
Also responsible for the infamous “corner taken quickly” moment against Barcelona – he will certainly go down as a club legend. However, should he depart for Madrid in the summer, it could tarnish his legacy amongst the fans.
Michael Owen
The last Englishman to win the Ballon D’or was part of the reason Fowler was forced to leave The Reds. His emergence in the same year that Fowler left was when he won the prestigious award. He made his senior debut in 1996 and featured over 300 times, scoring on 158 occasions.
Owen is renowned as one of the best strikers in Premier League history and is still thought of fondly in the red side of Merseyside despite his stints with Newcastle and Manchester United.
The academy has been a proud part of the community over the last 30 years and with local lads making their way into the Premier League and creating an everlasting legacy – it’s the type of thing that gets fans invested.
Curtis Jones is the next generation of talent to try and step up to the high expectations of those set before him. It will be a tough ask for any player but one a Merseyside-born star will do his utmost to reach.
