Liverpool legend backs Reds star to follow in Steven Gerrard's footsteps at Anfield

Jamie Carragher expects Trent Alexander-Arnold to extend his contract at Liverpool

Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the finest footballers of his generation and has already won it all at the club level. A local lad living his dream, Trent was a key cog in Jurgen Klopp’s system and is expected to don a similar role for Arne Slot in the upcoming campaign.

At 25, he is entering his prime, and it is scary just how much better he can get. Elevated to the role of vice-captain last season, a succession plan already appears to be in place that should see the number 66 take the reins from Virgil van Dijk when the time comes.

That is what Jamie Carragher believes, as he shared his thoughts in an exclusive chat with SPORTBible. The Reds’ legend has backed Trent to follow in Steven Gerrard’s footsteps and elevate his standing at the club to that of an icon. As a local lad, Trent will certainly be aware of the gravitas he can generate by leading his boyhood club to glory.

Jamie Carragher expects Trent Alexander-Arnold to extend his contract at Liverpool.

“I’ve always believed he would stay. It’s up for debate. He’s going to be the next captain. He’s a local lad. I always think you have that greater affinity when you’re a local player. I certainly did, Steven Gerrard didn’t go to Real Madrid or Chelsea because it was Liverpool.”

Real Madrid have often been our bane in the transfer market and on the field over the last few years. One can even call them our bogey side. While it is often difficult to retain players when the likes of Los Blancos come calling, there is hope with Trent only due to the fact that he is a local lad.

Trent will have seen the fallout of how Gerrard and Michael Owen’s careers panned out. The former is more or less deified at Anfield while the latter is largely seen as a traitor of sorts. It is fair to say that Owen’s stint at Old Trafford did him no favours either.

While Carragher is reasonably confident Trent will commit, there is always the fear that Real Madrid are trying to pull a Steve McManaman. Another local lad, Los Blancos landed him on Bosman, and he went on to enjoy a trophy-filled career at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Hopefully, history does not repeat itself involving Trent. He has already won it all at Liverpool and might fancy a new challenge. Whether offering him the armband as an incentive will sway his heart remains to be seen. After all, to channel Jurgen Klopp’s words, he could go on and become another player in Spain or stay at Liverpool and elevate himself to godly status.

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It is a pivotal summer for Liverpool and we are sure the decision-makers are busy behind the scenes to get the Trent issue solved as early as possible. Unlike Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, Trent’s contract takes priority as his prime is still ahead of him. With the dream team back together at Anfield, we are hopeful this saga will come to a satisfactory conclusion.