Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, saying it was "the hardest decision he has ever made".

• The England full-back said his "love for the club will never die" and was blessed to be able to "live out his dreams" at Anfield. However, he believes "the time is right" for a new challenge.
• In a statement Liverpool said Alexander-Arnold has "informed them of his intention to leave" when his contract expires, but that the defender leaves with the club's "gratitude and appreciation for his contribution during a sustained period of success".

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The majority of BBC Sport's live text readers today have wished Trent Alexander-Arnold well.

• But it's fair to say that some are unhappy with his decision to leave the club he has been at for 20 years on a free transfer.
• Others believe Real Madrid may not be as attractive a destination as Alexander-Arnold may believe.
• One fan has even suggested he should be booed by Reds fans in his final three games.

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Some Liverpool fans Alex, certainly not all.

Trent Alexander-Arnold will take some replacing at Liverpool.

• The England full-back excels as a Premier League defender.
• But he is also renowned for his prolific output at the other end of the pitch
• It means he is regarded as one of the finest attacking full-backs in the world.

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And what of the the future?

• Our reporter Sami Mokbel says Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to join Real Madrid
• The prestige of becoming a Galactico the overriding motivation to move to Spain
• Back at Anfield, BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty says that while many fans will accept his departure others will be "deeply hurt".
• He also believes Northern Ireland international Conor Bradley is "the first cab off the rank" as a replacement.

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Trent Alexander-Arnold's decision to leave Liverpool has deeper significance than most because he is the local boy made good, "The Scouser In Our Team" as he was celebrated in song by The Kop.

Many Liverpool fans will accept his departure to Real Madrid as a fact of modern football life, but others will be deeply hurt that someone with such strong ties to the club and city is leaving on a free transfer.

Anfield's reaction will certainly be interesting to observe in those final two home game against Arsenal, then for the Premier League trophy lift against Crystal Palace on 25 May.

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The youngest player of the three - and arguably the one with the greatest potential - is Martim Fernandes, who has impressed many since breaking into the Porto first-team this season, writes Ninad Barbadikar.

In 23 league appearances, Fernandes has five assists to his name and at just 19 years of age is already a key creative cog in the side.

He enjoys playing on the front foot and much like Trent Alexander-Arnold, he is an excellent crosser of the ball, adept at delivering into dangerous zones inside the opposition's six-yard box.

It is no wonder he is averaging an expected assists (xA) per match figure of 0.3 in the Portuguese top flight.

The young Portuguese provides an option on the flanks by playing high and wide up the pitch when Porto are attacking but is also capable of adding variety by making darting runs for the centre-backs to pass to, beyond the last defensive line of the opposition.

He shows promising movement while underlapping or overlapping to hit the byline to cross, and can manoeuvre in tight spaces to curl a cross into the box, much as Alexander-Arnold does.

In the Liga Portugal this term, Fernandes has averaged an impressive 3.65 crosses per match. His composure on the ball under pressure is impressive - and he has an excellent engine for the defensive side of the game.

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Nicknamed the 'Danish Beckham', Anton Gaaei has progressed quickly to become the first-choice right-back at Ajax this season, writes Ninad Barbadikar.

The 21-year-old, who joined Ajax after three seasons in the Danish Superliga with Viborg, has two goals and four assists in 23 Eredivisie appearances this term.

What immediately stands out about Gaaei is both the quality and variety of his crossing.

He is able to generate a lot of power with his right boot to cross the ball from deeper areas or hit the byline and cut back into the box too. His trademark is a low cross hit diagonally to go past defenders to connect with on-rushing team-mates.

Besides his crossing ability, Gaaei continues to improve on the defensive side of his game, which is helped by his excellent burst of pace in tracking back as well as making useful off-the-ball runs beyond his winger.

Entrusted with taking set-pieces as well, the young Dane is only in his second season in Dutch football so recruiting him would very much be a project signing for Liverpool.

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This has felt like a bit of a pile-on, where Real Madrid has been concerned.

There has not been a lot of love expressed for the La Liga giants.

I wonder if there is anyone out there who supports the club and might be able to give a different slant on the kind of welcome and support Trent Alexander-Arnold could expect at the Bernabeu, should he make the switch?

Important to note that will be a metaphorical wood chipper, Herb.

Guela Doue is 32 games into his second full season of senior football in Ligue 1, but is already making plenty of waves at Strasbourg, writes Ninad Barbadikar.

After breaking through in the 2023-24 season at Rennes, Doue has demonstrated his versatility since his switch to Strasbourg.

The 22-year-old Ivory Coast international - brother of Paris St-Germain winger Desire Doue - is a right-back who is well capable of playing as a wide centre-back in a three or as a right wing-back.

Doue's strengths lie in his ability to defend in one-against-one duels with intensity and move the ball upfield with his passes and carries. When he gets the opportunity to bomb forward at right-back, he can show a bit of flair on the ball.

Like Alexander-Arnold, Doue likes receiving the ball deeper in his own half before progressing the ball further up the pitch with long passes forward to his winger or striker.

Doue would be ideal for Slot's backline if they plan to bring in an adventurous full-back on the other side - Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez has been strongly linked with a move.

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Right, let's spend a bit of time assessing the right-backs available out there in Europe who could potentially attract interest from Liverpool this summer.

Football tactics writer Ninad Barbadikar has looked into this question for BBC Sport.

Here are some of the names he has highlighted...

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

There is a chance that Arne Slot may switch focus when considering this problem, looking for a full-back whose prime aim is to defend while also bolstering his starting XI with an attacking emphasis in other areas.

In that sense, the Reds boss may look to bring in two new faces - a direct replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back and a new creative force in midfield.

What is clear from this season, however, is that the way Liverpool attack has evolved under Slot, with less emphasis on raids from his full-backs than there has been in the past under Jurgen Klopp.

The assists in the team have been spread more widely across different areas, while Mohamed Salah has continued a trend that has seen him surge past Alexander-Arnold as Liverpool's leading creative force, as well as maintaining his role as their top goalscorer.

Liverpool's leading players for assists in the Premier League over the past six seasons:

• 2019-20 - Alexander-Arnold top with 13, Robertson second with 12
• 2020-21 - Alexander-Arnold joint top with 7, alongside Firmino, Mane & Robertson
• 2021-22 - Salah top with 13, Alexander-Arnold second with 12
• 2022-23 - Salah top with 12, Alexander-Arnold second with 9
• 2023-24 - Salah top with 10, Alexander-Arnold seventh with 4
• 2024-25 - Salah top with 18, Alexander-Arnold second with 6, and Diaz, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai joint third on 5.

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