When Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves Liverpool to join Real Madrid this summer, a move which reports indicate he is on the verge of finalising, he will do so having written himself into Anfield folklore.
The West Derby-born defender departs with a collection of winner's medals that tells the story of Liverpool's renaissance under Jürgen Klopp – Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Charity Shield, Super Cup, and Club World Cup all secured during a golden era for the Reds.
In the quiet corners of Liverpool's AXA Training Centre, the reality of his impending departure hangs heavy in the air. Alexander-Arnold's journey from wide-eyed academy prospect to vice-captain embodied the very essence of the club's ethos – a local lad who helped transform not only the club but his position football wide; It’s not often a right back is favourite amongst the betting sites to pick up an assist in a match, but Trent changed the game for bookmakers and made them take note of his attacking prowess. His ability to reinvent the right-back position has left an indelible mark not just on Liverpool, but on English football as a whole.
Over the course of nine years since his senior debut, the England international has evolved from promising youngster to world-class talent, becoming a key component of one of the most successful teams in Liverpool's illustrious history. As prepares to make his 350th appearance for the club, the question already looms large: how do you replace a player who has redefined his position?
The answer may lie close to home in Kirkby, across Europe's elite leagues, or somewhere in between. As Arne Slot contemplates life after Trent, we examine the contenders to fill the considerable void on Liverpool's right flank.
Conor Bradley
The corridors of Liverpool's academy have long echoed with whispered comparisons between young prospects and established stars. For Conor Bradley, those whispers have grown steadily louder with each accomplished performance in a red shirt.
Having a potential ready-made, long-term replacement for Alexander-Arnold may have contributed to Liverpool's thinking when assessing the futures of their out-of-contract trio, with captain Virgil van Dijk and top-scorer Mohamed Salah's deals also expiring in the summer.
Bradley represents the purest continuation of Liverpool's tradition – a player nurtured within the club's philosophical framework, understanding the weight of the shirt long before he ever wore it in competitive action. The 21-year-old Northern Ireland international memorably had the Kop singing 'There's only one Conor Bradley' following his crunching challenge on Kylian Mbappé during Liverpool's 2-0 win over Real Madrid earlier this season – a moment that crystallised his growing stature at Anfield.
Where Alexander-Arnold redefined the position with his quarterback-style passing range, Bradley offers a more traditional interpretation of the right-back role – defensively diligent, positionally aware, yet still capable of meaningful contributions in attack. The financial implications of promoting from within would undoubtedly appeal to Liverpool's hierarchy, allowing resources to be directed toward other areas of squad strengthening.
Jeremie Frimpong
Over at Leverkusen’s BayArena, Jeremie Frimpong has steadily built a strong case as one of Europe’s most effective attacking full-backs. His rapid bursts of pace, pinpoint delivery, and composed finishing have become trademarks of a player who appears to operate a step ahead of the game.
A former youth product of Manchester City's academy, Frimpong has been the outstanding attacking right back in Europe over the last couple of seasons and has been pivotal to Bayer Leverkusen's success under Xabi Alonso. Playing as a wing-back, Frimpong scored nine goals and made seven assists as Leverkusen won their first Bundesliga crown last season.
The Netherlands international is now reportedly 'close to signing for Liverpool next season' after the 'call came last week and alerted Real Madrid to the possibility of their interest in the Dutchman'. It's understood that Real Madrid's 'plans for the right wing are solely focused on Alexander-Arnold; nothing else is planned, so Frimpong has Florentino Perez's approval to move to the Premier League'.
His familiarity with Slot and the growing Dutch contingent at Liverpool – Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch – offers the promise of seamless integration. However, the tactical question remains: can a player who has thrived in Alonso's wing-back system adapt to Slot's back four? The answer may determine whether Frimpong's Anfield audition becomes a long-running show.
Tino Livramento
In the crucible of a cup final at Wembley, Tino Livramento stood firm against the swirling threat of Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian king, so often the tormentor of Premier League defences, found himself locked in a duel with Newcastle's young right-back – a battle that Livramento emerged from with his reputation significantly enhanced. In doing so, he may well have put himself in the Anfield shop window.
The 22-year-old recently impressed against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, excelling against The Egyptian King at Wembley. While Livramento is versatile and can play on both sides of the defence, he is primarily a right back and his development since joining Newcastle has led to an England call-up under Thomas Tuchel.
The obstacle to any potential move remains Newcastle's reluctance to strengthen a rival. Having invested significantly in Livramento's development following his move from Southampton, the Magpies view him as a cornerstone of their defensive future, not a commodity to be traded to a competitor.
Daniel Muñoz
In the unforgiving arena of the Premier League, goals and assists from defensive positions have become precious currency. Daniel Muñoz has quietly been amassing wealth in this department since his January arrival at Crystal Palace.
No right-back has scored more goals than Daniel Muñoz in the Premier League this season, and just two – one of whom is Alexander-Arnold – can beat his four assists. The player does turn 29 soon after this season ends, but as an international team-mate of Luis Díaz, he could help get the best out of his compatriot more consistently in a red shirt.
As Liverpool contemplate the challenge of replacing Alexander-Arnold, they must also cast an eye toward the opposite flank. Andy Robertson's advancing years and Kostas Tsimikas' inconsistent performances suggest that the left-back position may soon require similar attention. In the end, whoever inherits Trent’s position will not just be filling a slot in the team sheet, but stepping into a legacy.
The young boy who conquered Europe with his hometown club leaves behind boots that will take more than technical ability to fill – they require an understanding of what it means to represent Liverpool Football Club, a quality that cannot be measured in statistics or scouting reports.
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