Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Departure: A Shift in Liverpool’s Legacy?

Liverpool fans are gathering at Anfield for the season’s final match, where their team will lift the Premier League trophy. Among the celebrations, a sign near the stadium reads ‘MATE OR TRAITOR. Take Ya Pick, Trent,’ directed at Trent Alexander-Arnold. The 26-year-old, who joined Liverpool at age six and has won numerous trophies with the club, is set to transfer to Real Madrid. This move highlights a broader trend of decreasing local player representation in top-flight football. In the 2024-25 season, only 28 players born within ten miles of their club’s stadium made ten or more league appearances. Additionally, four Premier League teams did not field any local players this season. As globalisation influences football, only five of the 20 Premier League clubs are owned by English entities. Despite these changes, there remains a nostalgic attachment to local players like Alexander-Arnold.