We both know where he's going - Slot on Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool manager Arne Slot is "disappointed" to be losing "a very good full-back" in Trent Alexander-Arnold and has hinted that the England international will be joining Real Madrid.

Alexander-Arnold said on Monday that he is going to bring his 20-year spell at Anfield to an end by departing the Premier League champions on a free transfer when his contract runs out on 30 June 2025.

Since then, Real Madrid – the club he has been heavily linked with during the season - have approached Liverpool about signing the 26-year-old before his deal runs out so he can play at the Fifa Club World Cup, which starts on 14 June in the United States.

Asked about Alexander-Arnold leaving early for the Spanish club, Slot said: "He hasn't said anything about it himself.

"For me, it's impossible to comment on where he's going and if that is a club that is going to play in the Club World Cup.

"You see by my smile we both know where he's going to but it hasn't been said yet."

Liverpool won this season's top-flight title with four games to spare and host second-placed Arsenal on Sunday (16:30 BST) with the Gunners 15 points behind them going into the final three games.

Slot confirmed Northern Ireland international Conor Bradley, 21, will start at right-back against Arsenal as the Reds boss prepares for Alexander-Arnold's exit in a situation he was used to at his previous clubs.

"Like everybody who is a fan of Liverpool, we're disappointed for him leaving because not only a good human being is leaving the club but also a very, very good full-back is leaving us as well," said Slot as he spoke for the first time on Alexander-Arnold's decision to leave.

"I also worked at clubs like AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord where every season a good player, or multiple good players have left the club. I'm a bit more used to players leaving.

"If a very good player is leaving then the next player will step up and that's probably what's going to happen now."

The game with Arsenal will be Liverpool's first since Alexander-Arnold announced his decision to leave and, while there has been a mixed reaction, it remains to be seen what sort of reception the player will get from the Anfield crowd.

"That people have an opinion about us, if it is Trent or me or someone else, that is not new for anyone," said Slot.

"Probably, it's a bit more now for him than he is used to and probably a bit more negative than he's used to but I don't follow all of this.

"I am not here to tell the fans how they should react. I will see Trent in a bit - the boys had a few days off as well - so I will wait and see how he feels. I did speak to him on WhatsApp.

"We are all disappointed but Trent is the first one also who said that he would prefer us as a team and a club not to be not too much distracted by this announcement.

"I am hoping that all the energy on Sunday goes to the players and less as possible to Trent - unless it is positive, then they can do whatever they want."