There’s a certain irony that the lyrics of ‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go’ by The Clash include a number of phrases in Spanish.
It could very well be the current theme tune for the soap opera surrounding the footballing future of Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, even if he may not listen to a hit from the early Eighties.
The 26-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid, either in the summer (on a free transfer) or even in this January transfer window.
As the song suggests, if he does go ‘there will be trouble’ among Liverpool fans. If he stays it won’t ‘be double’, but already the relationship has changed between him and the club’s support, or sections of it anyway.
That was evident at Anfield on Sunday when Alexander-Arnold played pretty poorly in the 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
His performance did look lethargic at best, lazy and uninterested at worst.
Supporters will forgive a lot in players, especially local ones, as long as they put in the required effort.
Yet perhaps some supporters should think about their own performance and the potential impact on Alexander-Arnold.
Hurling abuse, as was the case from some from the early stages of the match, is unlikely to help.
It might inspire some to ‘stick it’ to his critics, but it’s also very likely to dispirit them, to put them off their game.
Trent was openly emotional on the day manager Jurgen Klopp departed Anfield last year. If, when it comes about, his own leaving of Liverpool will definitely grieve him even more.
It seems abundantly clear that captain Virgil van Dijk and star forward Mohamed Salah both want to extend their stays at Anfield.
There are far greater doubts about the desire of Alexander-Arnold to do so.
As painful as that may be to Liverpool fans, it should also be understandable.
The dilemma will definitely be weighing heavily on the player’s mind. The criticism directed at him will hurt him greatly too.
The cesspit formerly known as Twitter also contains a lot of crap directed at Trent.
Alexander-Arnold could stay and become revered as a Liverpool legend, but he may wonder a little about the worth of that label if he continues to be subjected to vitriol from so-called supporters.
Steven Gerrard is hailed by many as a paragon of loyalty but he was pushing for moves away from Liverpool on several occasions – and the rumoured reasons for why he stayed in the summer of 2005 are probably not printable.
Almost two decades on, there’s far more scrutiny on footballers, yet Trent has not uttered a single word to say he wants to leave.
He may well want to, but he has not even hinted so in public.
The double standards from some supporters are ridiculous.
Liverpool wanted to sign Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi last summer but he chose to stay with his boyhood club Real Sociedad – for which he was roundly mocked on social media by some Reds fans.
However, the prospect of Alexander-Arnold leaving is apparently utterly unacceptable.
If you drew a Venn diagram showing those who ridiculed Zubimendi for not leaving and those furious about the prospect of Alexander-Arnold going it would probably be close to just one circle. Of jerks.
Anyone who poses the question ‘Why would he want to move to Real Madrid?’ cannot be serious – or right in the head.
Think what you like about Real Madrid but they are the most successful club in world football. Others may total more trophies, but Real have won the biggest of all, the most important of all, the most times – by some distance.
Even if you remove the six European Cups they won over the first decade of the competition, from 1956 to 1966, they’re still top of the Champions League roll of honour.
Sure, Liverpool are going very well under Arne Slot, currently top of both the Premier and Champions Leagues. Yet Real Madrid are the reigning Champions League holders and they’re top of La Liga.
‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go’ was a double A-side…backed with ‘Straight To Hell’, but success and trophies are more guaranteed at the Bernabeu than at Anfield.
Real also represent glamour, a new experience, a new challenge – and Madrid is usually sunnier than Liverpool.
He’s a Liverpool fan himself but he also has his career to consider. Playing in a different league, moving out of his comfort zone, could make him even better.
To be clear, I’d prefer him to stay at Liverpool.
He is an exceptional player, with wonderful passing ability, a constant creative force. A wide midfielder in his Academy days, he converted to right-back to break into the first team. Defensive deficiencies remain; Manchester United weren’t the first to target him and won’t be the last.
Yet my view has always been that he generally brings far more to the team than he costs it.
I understand one aspect of annoyance about his potential departure. Players who come through the ranks at the club obviously don’t cost them a transfer fee – at least not initially.
There’s a sense among supporters that leaving on a free is a worse ‘crime’ when it’s committed by a local lad but Trent has given a huge amount to the club already.
The comment that ‘no one is bigger than the club’ has more than one meaning.
Liverpool Football Club will continue, with or without Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The upside for Liverpool – and Northern Ireland – is that if the exit door does close behind Alexander-Arnold then another one will open for Conor Bradley’s entry to become a first team regular.
The Aghyaran lad is not a like-for-like replacement, but he is a tenacious right-back with excellent attacking ability, so Trent would not leave Liverpool in the lurch.
Steve McManaman, who moved to Real Madrid on a free, is not loved by Liverpool fans, unlike his great pal Robbie Fowler, and McManaman had more footballing reason to leave than Alexander-Arnold, who is in a team competing for top trophies.
There are a host of factors for Trent to consider but vilifying him at this time will only increase the chances of him leaving to join his friend Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid.
