Liverpool manager Arne Slot says he is disappointed that Trent Alexander-Arnold has decided to leave the club this summer.
The England international announced his departure earlier this week and now looks set to join Real Madrid.
Slot said: “I think, like everybody who likes Liverpool and is a fan of Liverpool, we are disappointed about him leaving.
“Not only is a good human leaving, but a very good full-back is leaving us as well.
“But I also worked at clubs like AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, where every season a very good player or multiple very good players have left the club, so I am maybe a bit more used to it.
“But the experience I have – and this club as well – is that if a very good player is leaving, the next very good player will step up, and that is probably what is going to happen now.
Bradley to replace Alexander-Arnold on Sunday
Slot confirmed that Conor Bradley will take Alexander-Arnold’s place at right-back when Liverpool play Arsenal at Anfield this weekend.
He praised the youngster, saying he is ‘very talented’ and ready to make an impact.
With Alexander-Arnold’s future now away from Anfield, he may receive a mixed reaction from the Liverpool crowd.
Slot noted that fan opinions are natural and should be expected.
“People have an opinion on us, that’s not new for anyone,” Slot added. “It’s probably more negative now than he is used to.
“But I am not following this, and I am not here to tell the fans how to react.”
The Liverpool manager said he had spoken to Alexander-Arnold recently and was waiting to see how he would respond to the atmosphere.
Slot made it clear that the situation should not impact the team.
“We are all disappointed, but Trent does not want us to be too distracted,” Slot said. “I am hoping all the energy on Sunday goes to supporting our team.”
