Liverpool legend Ian Rush gives Trent Alexander-Arnold exit verdict - 'to tell you the truth'

Liverpool legend Ian Rush gives Trent Alexander-Arnold exit verdict - 'to tell you the truth'

Liverpool legend and record goalscorer Ian Rush has given his verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold's decision to leave this summer

Liverpool legend Ian Rush has had his say on Trent Alexander-Arnold's upcoming departure from Anfield (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images )

Liverpool legend Ian Rush empathises with Trent Alexander-Arnold's decision to leave Liverpool, as he did 39 years ago to Juventus.

However, the 63-year-old makes sure to warn of the pressure to 'hit the ground running' if an expected move to Real Madrid becomes finalised.

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Alexander-Arnold waited until Liverpool were confirmed as 2024/25 Premier League champions before finally announcing his intentions beyond the end of the season. That decision was revealed to be a departure upon the end of his contract at the age of 26 - a full two decades since he joined the Reds' youth setup.

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All that has been said so far is that the full-back is to leave, nothing is yet concluded about his destination. What is established is that the allure of Real appears to have been too strong to ignore.

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"Good luck to him. He's looking for a different chapter," Rush has told Sky Sports, speaking at Chester Racecourse as the May Festival got underway.

"You know, I went to Juventus. To tell you the truth, more probably financially for me, and I went there and maybe the grass is not always greener on the other side."

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This was evidenced by the fact after Rush made his then-British-record £3.2m switch to Turin in 1986 and stayed at Anfield for one more season on loan as planned, by 1988 he had returned home permanently.

On Alexander-Arnold, the legendary goalscorer continued: "But, it's a new chapter for him. It's not just football, he actually said it's for personal reasons as well. If you have to look at that I'm sure he'd be welcomed back to Liverpool if he ever does.

"He's at that age, 25, I think, he is now, he is at that age, 'do I stay at Liverpool and carry on?'

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"He's took that decision to add a new chapter to his career."

With the Spanish capital the anticipated next stop, Rush added: "Why not? It's new for him. He's going to a great club, Real Madrid.

"The problem is going to a great club like Juventus or Real Madrid, you have to hit the ground running. If you have a bad start the fans are straight onto you.

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"Hopefully he gets a good start."

And a start could come around sooner than expected, as Real are keen to add Liverpool's No.66 to their ranks ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup this June.

This would mean striking an agreement with Anfield chiefs to allow an early release from his contract.

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