Trent Alexander-Arnold has “deserved the right” to pursue a new challenge from Liverpool, says Harry Kewell.
Alexander-Arnold's contract will proceed at the end of June and announced on Monday that he will leave Liverpool.
The 26-year-old joined the Liverpool Academy in 2004 and rose through the ranks before he made his first team debut under Jurgen Klopp in 2016.
Since then he has collected 352 performances for the Reds in all competitions, scored 23 goals and registering an impressive 92 assists.
Alexander-Arnold has a key figure in the side that ended Liverpool's 30-year waiting time for a league title and has won two Premier League titles and a Champions League crown in his nine years.
Kewell, who was part of the Liverpool side who won the Champions League in 2005, is of the opinion that Alexander-Arnold should not be expressed because he chooses to leave the club.
“I will probably not win many fans for this, but I think Trent has done great things in Liverpool,” Kewell told statistics.
“To win almost everything possible – that is phenomenal. If he now wants a new challenge, if it is the path he chooses, then it is honor to him.
“I understand the frustration of fans, but he has achieved everything with Liverpool. He can now think about his own path.
“And if that means you are going abroad to challenge yourself again, it is that way. He deserved that well.”
“I want to say that it is not an easy decision and there has been a lot of thought and feeling that it went into it. I have been here for 20 years now, loved every minute, achieved all my dreams, achieved everything I ever wanted here.”
The interview of Trent Alexander-Arnold
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Alexander-Arnold is strongly connected to a move to Real Madrid and Kewell recognized the size of the step.
“Liverpool is one of the largest clubs in the world, but he doesn't go to a smaller club – he goes to Real Madrid,” he said.
“That is a club with just as much expectations. The pressure there will be huge, but he is used to that.
“The pressure of playing in Anfield is huge. I remember that when I played, opponents used to fear to come to Anfield. They would be like:” Oh my God, the pressure is too much. “
“He lived that. He has earned the right to choose his next step.
“And we all know what he is capable of. His passing range is phenomenal. I have said it before: he is probably one of the best crossers we have ever seen in the Premier League.”
The passing bravery of Alexander-Arnold indeed has widespread appliance. He leaves Anfield after he has registered more assists (64) than any other defender in the history of the Premier League.
In fact, only Leighton Baines (85) has more target contributions among defenders in the English top flight than Alexander-Arnold (82), although the defense of the English international has sometimes been questioned.
Speaking of the defensive skills of Alexander-Arnold, Kewell added: “Yes, there is a trade-off. He is not a natural defender defensively, but what he gives you in attack is excellent.
“And he was able to do that in part because he had someone like Virgil van Dijk behind him – perhaps the best defender the Premier League has seen. That gives him the freedom to move forward and influence games.”