Arne Slot has acknowledged that Liverpool made every effort to persuade Trent Alexander-Arnold to extend his contract with the club.
Despite the Reds successfully securing new deals for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, right-back Alexander-Arnold has chosen to depart on a free transfer this summer, with a move to Real Madrid nearly finalized.
His choice to leave, especially without a transfer fee, has caused considerable frustration among Liverpool supporters, and Slot expressed his own sense of disappointment.
‘Trent is not the first, nor will he be the last, to depart from such a remarkable club,’ he stated.
‘We did everything possible to retain him, but we must respect his decision.
One can understand his desire for a new challenge, as players who spend many years in the same league often seek new experiences.
It is disheartening for the fans, his teammates, and for me that he is leaving. We will greatly miss an exceptional individual and an outstanding full-back.
Questions have been asked over the reception which will be afforded to Alexander-Arnold over Liverpool’s final three games of the season, starting with a visit from Arsenal on Sunday.
Slot acknowledged there is likely to be some tension but urged supporters to stick behind the team as a whole.
“That people have an opinion about us, if it is Trent or me or someone else, is not new for anyone,” the boss continued.
“Probably it’s a bit more now for him than he is used to and probably a bit more negative but I don’t follow all of this.
I am not here to tell the fans how they should react.
“We are all disappointed but Trent is the first one also who he said he would prefer us as a team and a club not to be not too much distracted by this announcement.
I am hoping all the energy on Sunday goes to the players and less as possible to Trent – unless it is positive then they can do whatever they want.
“I worked at clubs like AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord where every season a very good player or multiple very good players left the club so I am a bit more used to it.
But the experience I have – and by the way this club as well – is that if a very good player is leaving the next very good player will step up and that probably will happen now.
“Lined up to fill the void left behind by Alexander-Arnold’s exit is fellow academy graduate Conor Bradley, who will start Sunday’s meeting with Arsenal in a bid to prepare him for a greater role next season.
Slot added: “You will not be surprised if I say everyone gets a programme over the summer.
We want to keep them fit, but they also have to enjoy a few days off. Conor has such an intense playing style.
They all run a lot, but Conor is in his own league. Comparable maybe with [Achraf] Hakimi at PSG.
He is everywhere during the game as well.”But Hakimi is 26.
He is much more used to doing this every single week.
He needs time, Conor, and a good programme to keep him fit.
“To become a very good player you have to be available every week, and that is the first step he has to take next season.
But we have confidence in Conor as a very good full-back for Liverpool and that is already what he has shown.
“Conor is going to start [against Arsenal].
He needs playing time to get some games under his belt and to be better prepared for next season.”