OPINION
Liverpool supporters have become used to seeing their best players depart for the two Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid and Barcelona since the turn of the century.
The likes of Michael Owen and Xabi Alonso have swapped Anfield for the Bernabeu, while Javier Mascherano, Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho have all made the switch from Merseyside to Catalonia.
The Reds faithful won’t want any more of their top players to be added to that well-trodden list. However, the latest reports will surely have the Liverpool fans fearing the worst.
Spanish outlet Don Balon reported last week that right back Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of two full backs Barcelona are keeping an eye one, with their report stating that Ernesto Valverde’s side could make a move for the England international before the end of the European transfer window next Monday.
It would be absolutely disastrous for Liverpool to sell Alexander-Arnold for a number of different reasons. Jurgen Klopp’s side have the best full back partnership in Europe, so to break that up – while helping a direct Champions League rival in the process – would be completely nonsensical.
Plus, there’s no obvious replacement for the 20-year-old at the club at this moment in time. Joe Gomez is better suited as a centre half, as is versatile youngster Ki-Jana Hoever, while Nathaniel Clyne is out of favour and consistently injured.
If Barcelona do make a proper move for Alexander-Arnold, it will be interesting to see how strong Liverpool’s position in European football now is after their Champions League triumph last season.
If they can rebuff Barca – arguably the biggest team in world football – then that would cement the Reds’ status as one of the true giants of European football.
