Liverpool: Jamie Carragher hits out at 'toxic' response to Trent Alexander-Arnold closing in on Real Madrid | OneFootball

Carragher insisted he wants Alexander-Arnold to be a success at Real Madrid

Jamie Carragher has criticised the “toxic” social media response aimed at Trent Alexander-Arnold as a summer move to Real Madrid seemingly draws closer.

Alexander-Arnold joined Liverpool at the age of six and has won every major honour available with the club, but the nature of his departure as a free agent is one that has left sections of the fanbase frustrated.

However, Carragher insisted abuse aimed at the 26-year-old is not representative of what most Liverpool supporters feel, making it clear that he wants Alexander-Arnold to succeed in Spain.

“I always think an international break is a time where every club are getting things in order for the summer and speaking to agents, who’s coming and going,” Carragher said on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.

“So it was always going to blow up at some stage with this.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer

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“People look at the reaction, but social media is so toxic – ‘He shouldn’t play for the club again,’ or ‘Slot shouldn’t play him’ – people use that now as the barometer of the fan’s feelings, but it’s just a mad place, it’s not what normal [fans think].”

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will both also be out of contract in the summer as it stands, leaving Liverpool in danger of losing three of their best players on free transfers.

Carragher admitted he is “disappointed” in Alexander-Arnold’s expected departure from the club, though more with the defender not being satisfied enough to stay at Liverpool rather than the fact no transfer fee will be paid by Real Madrid.

“I’m not angry about him going on a free,” Carragher said. “In an ideal world, Liverpool would get £70m or £80m for him to reinvest, but you can’t have it both ways as a supporter.

“If Liverpool sign someone on a free in the summer, we’d all be delighted, so does that mean that his former club should absolutely hate him? Also, when you’re a local player you don’t cost anything – Trent going on a free is like Virgil van Dijk leaving for £75m, we’d still break even.

“Where I’m at is that, as a local player and a Liverpool fan, Liverpool are in a position where they’re competing for the league and a European Cup every year. So, if you’re a Liverpool fan and a local player, I’m just disappointed that he doesn’t think that this is it.

“I’m putting myself in his position, where I’d be thinking that we could go level with Manchester United in league trophies, I’ve got another seven or eight years at Liverpool and want to get three or four ahead of them, with a couple more European Cups.”