Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of three big-name Liverpool players out of contract in the summer but Real Madrid had been attempting to force a move through a few months early

Danny Murphy, the former Liverpool midfielder who also grew up as a fervent Reds supporter, empathises with Trent Alexander-Arnold 's current predicament. In 2004, Murphy faced his own turning point when he had to leave Anfield, similar to the situation Alexander-Arnold finds himself in amid rumours of a potential switch to Real Madrid.

Alexander-Arnold is expected to join Real Madrid this summer on a free transfer after he rejected Liverpool’s offers to tie him down to a new deal. However, there could be a problem now. Real Madrid were free to open talks with Alexander-Arnold over a pre-contract at the start of January.