Trent Alexander-Arnold explains why he's leaving Liverpool | OneFootball

Trent Alexander-Arnold revealed that he seriously considered extending his Liverpool contract, but ultimately decided to make a "change" and find a "new challenge" after 20 years at his boyhood club.

The Liverpool-born full-back spent his youth peering between the cracks of the club's old Melwood training ground to get a glimpse of his childhood idols. Alexander-Arnold was still living in the house that was around the corner from Liverpool's base by the time he won every major honour with the first team.

Yet, despite this deep-rooted affection for everything LFC, Alexander-Arnold confirmed his decision to let his contract expire in June.

"Giving everything day in, day out for 20 years, I've got to a point now where I feel like I need a change, a new challenge for me as a player and as a person," the 26-year-old told the club's official website. "And I think now is the right time for me to do that."

Speculation surrounding Alexander-Arnold's future has been rife throughout the campaign. After months of toing and froing, numerous reports in March claimed that the England international had decided to join Real Madrid once his stay at Liverpool had come to an end.

While Alexander-Arnold would not be drawn on his next destination, he did explain why he chose Monday, 5 May as the moment to officially announce his exit. "I know a lot of people will say I should have said sooner, a lot of people will say maybe I waited for the right time. But I felt personally the focus should always be on the pitch, should always be about the football.

"When we were in a title race and trying to push for trophies, it's about making the right decision for the team and trying not to distract the team and take away from what we're doing on the pitch. For me, it was always to do it after the season was kind of done; not so much the final game but when there was nothing else really to play for."

Alexander-Arnold had his second Premier League title with Liverpool confirmed by last weekend's 5-1 thumping of Tottenham Hotspur. With no other cup competition to play for, the right-back felt it was "the right time to get it off my chest and tell the fans the truth".

There has been plenty of backlash from fans once it became clear that Alexander-Arnold would be leaving Liverpool in his prime years. The proud Scouser accepted that "the news will disappoint a lot of people, will anger people, it will make them upset" but stressed how "difficult" a decision it was.

"I will always love the club, I will always love the people of the club, I will always love the fans and the supporters," Alexander-Arnold concluded. "Even though I'm leaving as player, as a fan I'll always be a Liverpool fan."