Jamie Carragher is confident Trent Alexander-Arnold will still be a Liverpool player next season.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, joined the Reds in 2004 when he started his junior career with the club.
After captaining Liverpool at various youth levels, Alexander-Arnold made his first-team debut as an 18-year-old in 2016 and has since made 325 senior appearances for his hometown club.
But Alexander-Arnold is one of three big players, along with Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk, whose current contract at Anfield expires on June 30 next year.
The English right-back has been linked with interest from Real Madrid, who could soon sign him for free if he does not put pen to paper on a new contract with Liverpool.
Liverpool beat Madrid 2-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday night when Alexander-Arnold was an unused substitute.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has just seven months left on his current Liverpool contract
The English right-back took photographs before Liverpool defeated Real Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday evening
Speaking CBS SportsFormer defender Carragher – who spent his entire 737-game club career at Liverpool – said of Alexander-Arnold before kick-off on Wednesday: ‘I think the reaction to him will be different to Salah when we are over [contract situation].
‘I think he will get a lot more criticism because when you are a local player you are thought of a lot more. And I think the feeling of the Liverpool supporters will worry him a little bit and I think he will sign eventually.’
Carragher added: ‘I think he will be very concerned about the reaction if he doesn’t sign and goes on a free to Real Madrid, for example.
‘I think the feeling among Liverpool fans would be very different to what it has been with Mo Salah in the last few days… because he is a local player.
‘I saw it with Steve McManaman when he went to Real Madrid for free [in 1999]. He was a great player for Liverpool. So did Michael Owen.
‘Michael Owen did an interview today in which he said that sometimes he doesn’t feel welcome and safe when he goes back to Anfield. Part of that has to do with playing for Manchester United [between 2009 and 2012]I understand that. But a lot of it has to do with leaving Liverpool. And he didn’t leave for free, he left for £12 million [when he signed for Madrid in 2004].
“I think this will be on Trent’s mind at this point. And I think if you’re a local player, you don’t want to lose the legacy that he already has.
“He’s been there since he was a boy, he’s now 26 and has won everything. You don’t want to lose that and I think he will sign.’
Jamie Carragher told CBS Sport that he expects Alexander-Arnold to stay at Liverpool
Arne Slot (left) pictured talking to Alexander-Arnold during a recent win over Aston Villa
Alexander-Arnold has won seven different trophies with Liverpool, including the Premier League, Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup.
McManaman and Owen also won several trophies at Anfield before heading to Madrid. Owen spent just one season at the Bernabeu, during which he failed to win any silverware. Conversely, McManaman won two La Liga titles, two Champions League crowns, one Supercopa de Espana and one UEFA Super Cup during his four years in the Spanish capital.
Although Liverpool are keen to keep Alexander-Arnold, manager Arne Slot may already have the perfect replacement in his current squad.
21-year-old Conor Bradley started Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Madrid and was later named Player of the Match after dominating his personal battle with Kylian Mbappe.
Bradley assisted Alexis Mac Allister for the opening goal and also completed more tackles (four) than any other Liverpool player – one of which was a blistering slide challenge on Mbappe in the 32nd minute.
Bradley did not commit any errors, but was fouled three times himself.
Reflecting on Bradley’s firm but fair first-half slide tackle on Mbappe, former Arsenal and Barcelona striker Thierry Henry said on CBS Sports: “That already set the tone for me.”
Henry later added: “Conor Bradley was just outstanding. I don’t think he had to do much defensively because Mbappe didn’t do much offensively. So it became very easy. But the positions he’s in now and what he can do and how he understands when to make that run.
“To be honest, the assist wasn’t an assist from Trent, but it’s still where it should be.”