Steven Gerrard has insisted that he wouldn’t have departed Liverpool in the manner Trent Alexander-Arnold chose to. Following two decades with the Reds, the right-back made the switch to Real Madrid earlier this summer. Los Blancos were so eager to secure his services for the Club World Cup that they stumped up a lump sum of £8.4million whilst also covering his salary for June, rather than waiting to snap up the defender without a fee.
Alexander-Arnold’s choice did not sit well with certain Liverpool fans. He faced jeers when introduced from the bench during their game against Arsenal last season, which directly followed confirmation of his decision to leave the club. Gerrard was asked for his thoughts on the saga while appearing on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.
He commented: “When they [Real Madrid] come, it’s going to turn your head. No matter who you are, it’s going to turn your head or you’re not human, so I can understand it from being in Trent’s shoes.
“I get it. His best mate plays there. Maybe he wants to challenge himself. He’s won everything at Liverpool, so there’s a part of me that really understands it.
“But as soon as I put my Liverpool hat back on, I think, what are you doing? What are you doing? You’re arguably one of the best teams in Europe. You’re winning things that I sit here now and still dream of winning.
“You’re winning European Cups. You’re one of the main men. The fans adore you. What are you doing? But this is with my Liverpool hat on, because I love Liverpool.”
Gerrard also believes that Alexander-Arnold must accept the backlash that has been coming his way.
“The next person that flirts with Real Madrid or Barcelona or blah, blah, blah, they’re going to get a stick,” he said.
“We play a game with millions and millions of people that are paying good money or they’re all on social… You’re going to get a bit of stick. It is what it is.
“The stick that goes above the line, I don’t agree with. The abuse, all of that, I don’t agree with that with any player. That’s not for me. That’s just a load of b*******. That’s got to stop.
“But constructive criticism from a fan who’s paying money and buying your shirt and blah, blah, blah, they deserve to have anything. They’re the same people that were watching Trent’s goals on the phone or spending three grand to go to Dortmund.
“They’re the same people that adore him, that are spending £90 on a shirt. You’ve got to accept it. Get on with it. It is what it is. That is constructive opinions in football. You have to get on with it. You have to accept. Just get on with it, and he has.
“I just think he took a big risk on. He’s an extremely good footballer, a very talented footballer. One of the best passers I’ve ever seen and I’ve played with some good passers. He’s up there with them. He’s in the conversation with Beckham and Scholes, no problem.
“But to leave Liverpool where he was at in the prime years, getting off with a new contract, he took a risk on in my opinion and I think he’s living that risk now.
“I hope it works for him because I love the kid. Love the kid to bits. I wouldn’t have done it, but he’s good enough to make it work.”
Listen to the full Rio Meets Steven Gerrard interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.