Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

The right-back is out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season and Alexander-Arnold has opted to join Real Madrid ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Alexander-Arnold may have always had this move to Real Madrid in mind, or at least, he wanted to put himself in control of his own destiny when signing his last Liverpool contract.

Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images

Alexander-Arnold signed his last Liverpool contract in 2021 with the full-back stating at the time that the Merseyside club was always a good option for him, no matter what situation the Reds find themselves in.

MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES

“So clearly he (Alexander-Arnold) signed that with this situation in mind, that it would come to this point.

It’s not to say he decided all those years ago, when he signed it, that he wanted to go to Real Madrid.

But his ideal situation when he signs that deal is that he comes to this renewal and the best scenario, even if he wanted to stay, is to have Real Madrid battling for his services with Liverpool.

“That’s clearly something he kind of cooked up in his mind.

The defender is a generational talent and if Liverpool really wanted to keep the 26-year-old, they would have offered him a new deal a year or two years ago.

Even up until recently, the Merseyside club could have offered the right-back the chance to become the best-paid player at Anfield, which would have increased their chances of keeping the player they will now find very hard to replace.

When it comes to the blame game, arguments can be made for both sides, as it is clear that Alexander-Arnold wanted to take control over his future when signing his last Liverpool contract.