Owen offers stark warning to TAA over leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid

Michael Owen has warned Trent Alexander-Arnold of the consequences if he leaves Liverpool on a free transfer this summer.

The former Reds striker, loved by the Anfield faithful at the time, completed a move to Real Madrid in 2004 and quickly saw his standing in the eyes of supporters decline.

In Owen's case, the final nail in the coffin came when he joined Manchester United in 2009, but even before that extraordinary move, many who had fallen out of love with him during an eight-year spell that saw him score more than 150 goals become. their former idol.

An eerily similar situation is now befalling Alexander-Arnold, whose contract expires at the end of the season and is strongly linked with a move to the Spanish giants.

Owen believes that in an ideal world the 26-year-old's performances for his boyhood club should save him from the wrath of supporters, but he admits an exit would ultimately color the opinion of Reds fans.

“The situation in Trent is interesting,” the 44-year-old told The Telegraph. 'Trent has done everything for Liverpool. He loves Liverpool. If he goes, no one should begrudge him another experience in his life and career.

“No matter what happens, he should be considered a hero. Unfortunately, it does affect the way people look at you. It will tarnish him in some eyes, even though it shouldn't.'

Coincidentally, Arne Slot's side face the Spanish champions in a mouthwatering Champions League match at Anfield on Wednesday, with Alexander-Arnold in line to return from a hamstring injury sustained in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa earlier this month .

The England international can talk to foreign clubs from January 1. His contract expires in June and there has been no confirmation from the club that a new contract has been agreed with any of their star players.

Owen's story will no doubt serve as a warning to the full-back, who would be among the millions of Liverpool supporters who cheered after their heroic European Cup win in Istanbul in 2005.

The final came just a year after Owen left for LaLiga and he was forced to endure the venom of the fans when he returned to the English top flight with Newcastle just 18 months after leaving Anfield.

“The moment I chose to go to Real Madrid, I lost control of my career and the perception of it,” he added. 'I don't like going to Anfield now because I know I'm not loved. I usually go alone when I'm at work.

'It's not that I'm dreading going, but for a long time I've buried my head driving back to the academy to see friends. Since then I've said to myself: I shouldn't have felt this way.

'People now say: 'It was because he signed for Manchester United.' But the whole world knows that a piece of history has been rewritten there. There was resentment against me before that when I played for Newcastle, even though I had a clause in my contract at Newcastle that I could re-sign for Liverpool every summer.

'The Manchester United aspect is now an easier stick to beat me with, but when I first returned to Anfield as a Newcastle player there were a few hundred, possibly a thousand, supporters booing me.

'I can't forget how me, my parents and my former Liverpool teammates felt. Anyone who understood and appreciated the reality of the situation was disappointed on my behalf.”

Liverpool have the chance to extend their 100 percent run in the league with a win over the injury-hit defending champions.

Carlo Ancelotti's side sit precariously in 18th place in the league stage with a record of two wins and two defeats at the halfway point.