Virgil van Dijk disagrees with Gary Lineker as Trent Alexander-Arnold point made

The Summer Liverpool Lost Their Homegrown Hero: Life After Trent Alexander-Arnold

The summer of 2025 is one that Liverpool fans will never forget. It was the summer their hometown hero, Trent Alexander-Arnold, finally said his goodbyes. The boy from West Derby, who grew up dreaming of walking out at Anfield, left his childhood club for the world’s biggest stage — Real Madrid. His departure followed months of uncertainty, tense contract negotiations, and emotional interviews that left supporters heartbroken. Now, only a few months later, the reality of his absence is sinking in. Liverpool have moved on, but it doesn’t quite feel the same.

It was supposed to mark a fresh beginning. Arne Slot had just arrived as manager, succeeding the legendary Jürgen Klopp, whose era defined modern Liverpool. Supporters were still adjusting to life after Klopp when the bombshell dropped — Trent was leaving too. Losing both in one summer felt almost unbearable.

Trent’s story had been the embodiment of Liverpool’s spirit: a local lad turned global star, wearing the badge with pride, turning matches with his passing, his free kicks, his vision. He wasn’t just a player — he was the pulse of the team.

But in football, emotion often collides with ambition. Real Madrid had been tracking him for two years, waiting for the right opening. When Liverpool hesitated to finalize a new deal, Madrid pounced. The club’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, insisted it was the right business decision — selling before losing him for free. Still, it was a decision that left deep scars.

Liverpool’s start to the new season wasn’t terrible, but cracks soon began to appear. The fluidity was missing. The right flank — once the team’s greatest weapon — lacked its old rhythm. Mohamed Salah, who had formed a near-telepathic connection with Trent, suddenly looked isolated. The spark was gone, and the question began to echo around Anfield: Did Liverpool make a mistake?

Gary Lineker was one of the first to say what many were thinking. On The Rest Is Football podcast, the former England striker didn’t hold back:

“Liverpool are really missing Trent. There’s nobody in world football who plays the right-back role like he does. Sure, he had defensive lapses, but what he offered going forward was priceless. You can’t replace that kind of creativity.”

Lineker also noted that Salah hasn’t been the same without his old partner-in-crime. For years, their understanding down the right was unmatched — Trent’s early crosses, Salah’s deadly movement. “That chemistry,” Lineker said, “was something special. You can see he misses it. The right side just doesn’t have the same magic anymore.”

While Lineker’s comments went viral, Virgil van Dijk saw things differently. After Liverpool’s 2–1 defeat to Chelsea, the captain dismissed talk that the team’s dip was down to Trent’s exit.

“It’s not about him,” Van Dijk said firmly. “He was world-class, yes, but we played plenty of games without him last season. It’s not an excuse.”

Van Dijk’s words carried leadership — but even he must feel how difficult it is to replace someone as influential as Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool’s attempt to move forward came in the form of Jeremie Frimpong, signed from Bayer Leverkusen. Quick, fearless, and attack-minded, Frimpong has shown promise, but he’s a different kind of full-back — more dribbler than playmaker. His creativity doesn’t yet mirror Trent’s pinpoint precision. Young Conor Bradley is still learning, but even his brightest moments remind fans of what’s missing.

The debate continues. Some supporters agree with Van Dijk — that Liverpool’s struggles are collective. Others side with Lineker — that losing Trent robbed the team of its creative heartbeat. The truth lies somewhere in between. Slot’s structured system emphasizes control and balance, yet that structure restricts the freedom that Trent once thrived on under Klopp.

Under Klopp, Trent wasn’t merely a defender; he was a deep-lying playmaker, drifting into midfield to dictate tempo and unlock defenses. Slot’s system is more rigid, more positional. Perhaps that’s why Trent was ready for a new adventure. At Real Madrid, he’s been given license to create again — and by all reports, he’s loving it.

Back in Liverpool, the void is undeniable. Every time the team struggles to break down opponents, fans whisper his name. Every time Salah looks up and finds no overlapping run, memories flood back. This isn’t just about tactics — it’s about emotion. Trent wasn’t just a player; he was part of the club’s soul.

From the academy fields of West Derby to Champions League glory, Trent’s rise was every local boy’s dream. He captained his boyhood club, lifted silverware, and embodied everything Liverpool stood for. Watching him leave before his prime felt personal. His farewell message still echoes:

“Liverpool will always be home. I’ve given everything for this badge. Now it’s time for a new challenge.”

For Arne Slot, the challenge is monumental — rebuilding Liverpool’s identity without its homegrown talisman. He’s trying to form a new right side, a new rhythm, but results have been mixed. Three straight losses and a drop behind Arsenal have turned up the pressure. Critics are already asking: can Slot truly restore Liverpool to their former glory?

Jamie Carragher summed it up perfectly:

“Losing Klopp and Trent in the same summer is like losing the heart and soul of the club. You can’t replace that with one signing.”

Inside the dressing room, the mood has shifted. The laughter and unity remain, but it feels quieter. Salah, Van Dijk, Alisson, and Robertson are still fighting, but they know time is catching up. Trent was supposed to lead the next generation — now he’s leading a new chapter at the Bernabéu.

Even in Madrid, Trent has spoken warmly about his roots. “Liverpool made me who I am,” he told Spanish reporters. “I’ll always be grateful. I just needed something to push me out of my comfort zone.” Asked about Salah, he smiled: “We spoke before I left. There’s always respect. Maybe one day, who knows, we’ll play together again.”

Back home, the emotions are mixed — pride in seeing one of their own shine abroad, and sadness that he’s gone. Yet all agree on one thing: there will never be another Trent Alexander-Arnold.

His exit has sparked debate about Liverpool’s transfer planning. Could they have done more to keep him? Was it time to let him go? Only time will answer those questions. What’s certain is that his departure left a hole — on the pitch and in the hearts of supporters.

Gary Lineker’s recent remarks captured the mood:

“You can’t replace players like that. Systems matter, yes, but football is about magic — and Trent gave Liverpool that magic. Without him, they look ordinary.”

Meanwhile, Van Dijk continues to look forward. “We move on,” he said. “Trent was part of our story, but now it’s about writing a new one.”

And that’s what this season is about — the end of an era, and the beginning of another. Liverpool are still a great club, still full of belief, but the road ahead will test their identity and patience.

Each game feels like a story of transition — moments of brilliance mixed with moments of struggle. Fans still stay up late to watch Trent in Madrid, yet they also cling to hope for the next chapter at Anfield.

Because that’s what defines Liverpool — they never stop believing. Legends come and go, but the spirit endures.

For now, as Lineker and Van Dijk debate, as Slot searches for balance, and as Salah tries to rediscover that missing connection, one truth remains: Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shadow still lingers over Liverpool.

He may be wearing white in Madrid now, but his red heart will forever belong to Anfield. And one day, when he returns — no matter the shirt he’s wearing — the Kop will rise and sing his name again.

Because once you’ve worn Liverpool red, you’re always one of their own