According to reports on Tuesday, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s transfer to Real Madrid is on the verge of being completed when his Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season.
The defender has long been linked with a free transfer to the Bernabeu, and it is believed that talks between the 26-year-old and the Spanish giants are progressing.
Since January, the England international has been able to discuss terms with foreign clubs. He started out in the youth ranks at Liverpool and has spent more than 20 years at the Premier League.
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On January 5, 2025, during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England, Trent Alexander-Arnold (L) and Diogo Dalot (R) square off against Diogo Dalot (R). (Photo by Darren Staples/AFP)
Alexander-Arnold made his Liverpool debut as an 18-year-old in 2016.
With his boyhood club, the right-back has won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, and Club World Cup, and is currently 12 points clear of Arne Slot’s side for the top of the table.
At the end of the season, Alexander-Arnold is one of three important Liverpool players with no contracts, with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah’s prospects still uncertain.
Alexander-Arnold missed Liverpool’s defeat to Newcastle in the League Cup final earlier this month because of an ankle injury.
After drawing 0-0 with Japan on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard said, “everything can happen.” This kept his team’s chances of winning the 2026 World Cup alive.
In the battle for second place in Group C’s third-round Asian qualifying, the Saudis were subject to intense pressure from Japan, which was hostile, in Saitama.
With two games left, Australia now leads Saudi Arabia by three points after defeating China 2-0.
The top two teams advance to a second qualifying round, with the top three teams going into the third and fourth rounds, and then automatically advance to the next World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In their final qualifying match in June, Saudi Arabia takes on Australia, and Renard claimed his country was still in the running for a direct spot.
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The Frenchman said, “There are still two games where everything can happen.”
Before the opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification football match against Saudi Arabia in Saitama on March 25, 2025, Japan’s players pose for a team photo. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI/AFP)
We must travel to Bahrain, where Japan and Australia will play, and where Australia will play in the final game.
It’s a difficult fight, they say. We just need to consider the four points we received in these two games, and we look to be better offensively in these two games. ”
Roberto Mancini was fired in October of last year, and Renard led the Saudis to a famous victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
With a 1-0 victory over China last week, the Saudis won their first of five qualifiers, but it was harder to beat runaway group leaders Japan away from home.
He said, “We got a good result this evening.”
You are unable to be open.
I am aware that it wasn’t beautiful. Sorry, but we kept our organization. ”
Japan qualified for Group C with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain last week, making them the first nation to do so.
Japan were unable to convert possession into chances when Celtic striker Daizen Maeda hit the post with a first-half chance.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said, “We qualified for the World Cup, but there was no drop-off from the players prior to the game.”
We kept our focus on the game, kept our concentration, and stopped the enemy from hitting us on the counter. Both tactically and mentally, the players did very well. ”
Kaoru Mitoma, Ayase Ueda, Ayase Ueda, and Hidemasa Morita were the only players who made the starting lineup for Japan after the victory over Bahrain.
Renard praised his defense for handling a Japan side that had scored 24 goals in eight qualifiers despite the fact that the Saudis were missing players.
Because Japan is a very good team, he said, “You can’t come here when you are very open. You need to be careful.”
I believe the defensive strategy was effective. Offensively, we attempted to enter the space, but we failed miserably. ”
The introduction of a cheek swab test to determine an athlete’s biological makeup was approved by World Athletics on Tuesday, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
The decision-making Council of the international track and field federation, according to Sebastian Coe, was a “really important” way to safeguard the female category.
In a press conference following the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Coe said, “It’s important to do it because it keeps everything that we’ve been talking about, especially recently, about actually guaranteeing the integrity of female women’s sport.”
We believe that this will give consumers confidence and keep the competition’s absolute focus on integrity.
Coe claimed that the decision was made following extensive discussion of the proposal.
Although he noted that the swab test was not deemed to be excessively intrusive, “overwhelmingly, the view has come back that this is absolutely the way to go.”
You acknowledge the fact that this is the world we live in, he said, confident that the policy would be upheld by legal challenges.
If I had been anything other than prepared to face the challenge head-on, I would never have chosen to pursue this path.
“Our DSD (difference of sex development) regulations have us going to the Court of Arbitration.”
They have been upheld, and after appeal, they have once more been upheld. So we will continue to fight for the female category and take all necessary steps to protect it.
The Spanish Liga leaders announced on Tuesday that Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado will likely be sidelined for two months after suffering a partial knee ligament tear in last weekend’s victory over Atletico Madrid.
The 21-year-old has made 37 appearances for Hansi Flick’s side this season across all competitions.
Casado resigned from Spain’s Nations League squad.
Read more about Newcastle’s celebrations for England’s New-Boy Burn.
At the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on March 16, 2025, Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder #17 Marc Casado and Atletico Madrid’s #22 Argentine forward Giuliano Simeone battle for the ball during the Spanish league footbale match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP)
In the 67th minute of Barcelona’s dramatic 4-2 victory over Atletico, the injury forced him to leave.
He has a partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee, according to a statement from Barcelona.
He will likely be out of action for two months because of his conservative treatment.
On goal difference, Barcelona leads Real Madrid, Atletico is four points ahead, and they also have a game in hand.
They may still have a chance of scoring a triple.
Prior to the second leg of Barca’s Copa del Rey semi-final against Atletico, the lead is 4-4. Next month, they will face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-finals.
As the defender concentrates on his first England call-up, Dan Burn has slowed down his celebrations of Newcastle’s historic League Cup victory.
In the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, Burn scored the opener for Newcastle as they defeated Premier League leaders Liverpool 2-1.
Newcastle finally came to an end to their 56-year trophy drought with the 32-year-old goal, which ignited wild celebrations at Wembley and back home on Tyneside.
Before their UEFA World Cup Qualifying Group K football matches against Albania on March 21 and Latvia on March 26, England’s defender Dan Burn attends a press conference at St George’s Park in Burton-on-Trent, central England, on March 18, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS/AFP)
Burn, who had received his first call-up to the England squad on Friday, had a remarkable week to come to an end.
Burn could have been forgiven for wanting to make the most of the party that followed the Magpies’ long-awaited success as a boyhood Newcastle fan who was born just a few miles away.
However, the centre-back was aware of his Monday morning report for England duty.
In order to prepare for Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge of England against Albania in the World Cup qualifier on Friday at Wembley, he wisely chose not to join the alcohol-heavy partying.
It was odd, I thought. My focus completely changed to this as soon as I left the stadium on Sunday, according to Burn, who spoke on Tuesday at England’s training facility.
“We ended up getting on the bus about 12 o’clock back to the hotel because I had my family and the kids.”
“I was just about to go to sleep because it was getting a little rowdy.” There will be a celebration afterwards. I believe I’ll celebrate that the club has posted information about a parade there.
“But I didn’t want to ruin this opportunity because I had waited so long for it.”
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I’ve had a lot of doubts.
On March 18, 2025, England’s defender Dan Burn addresses a press conference at St. George’s Park in Burton-on-Trent, central England. (Photo by Paul ELLIS/AFP)
After spending the majority of his career in obscurity, Burn, who was released by Newcastle’s academy at the age of 11, has since experienced a late rise to fame.
The giant defender eventually seized his chance at Brighton before moving to Newcastle in 2022, and both his permanent and loan spells at lesser-known league clubs like Darlington, Yeovil, Birmingham, and Wigan were valuable experiences.
He claimed, “It probably made me very resilient.” I don’t believe my career has had a straight-line trajectory because I started out very late and things have been moving very quickly.
He continued, “I think I’ve had a lot of doubts about my career. I doubt that many people who saw me play in Darlington would believe that I was sitting here speaking for England.
Burn felt his chance to win an England medal had expired with his outstanding form for Eddie Howe’s side when he did not make Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad.
Before their UEFA World Cup Qualifying Group K football matches against Albania on March 21 and Latvia on March 26, England’s defender Dan Burn grinnes during a press conference at St George’s Park in Burton-on-Trent, central England, on March 18, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS/AFP)
He said, “I believe I was overlooked, but I fully comprehended it.”
Now that England has made their 2026 World Cup squad, Burn wants to cappil a fairytale comeback.
“You sort of accept that the time has passed, but luckily the new manager has taken a chance on me,” he said after being passed over during so many international breaks.
Every child has a dream to compete in a World Cup or even play for their country, so knowing that I have that opportunity, if I take it, is special.
After a frustrating week for Arne Slot’s men, there is a palpable sense of anti-climax and uncertainty about the future despite Liverpool’s only weeks away from premier league glory.
Just five days after Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League campaign was over, the struggling Reds lost to a hungry Newcastle team in the final game of the League Cup on Sunday.
The Magpies celebrated their first domestic trophy in 70 years in front of their devoted fans at Wembley, but Liverpool were overshadowed and out-fought.
Eddie Howe’s men deserved their victory, Slot declared in a positive way after the defeat.
“This is a part of playing football, especially if one of the two is when you face the world’s best team at the moment and the other is Newcastle, which is a very strong team in England,” he said.
With only nine games left, the Dutchman wanted to turn the focus back to the Premier League, highlighting Liverpool’s yawning 12-point lead.
Even if Arsenal and Liverpool win every game, Liverpool would still be able to claim the title with 16 more points, which is likely to make their May visit to Anfield academic.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk claimed they do not require additional incentives, despite the fact that they are almost inconceivable to not hold the record for 20 English top-flight titles held by Manchester United.
The defender said, “We have nine games to go, and I don’t believe there is any motivation needed.” We must realize that we have a job to do while we’re working hard.
You’re going to be the champions of England if you win five games, which is obviously a challenging job.
After Jurgen Klopp’s talismanic departure, Liverpool fans would have been delighted to win just the Premier League in the first season.
However, despite their incredible success in the Champions League’s league phase, many people were hoping that Mohamed Salah’s goals would be truly historic.
Instead, at least temporarily, the ruthlessness they displayed earlier in the campaign has vanished.
Even though one of Liverpool’s last 10 matches was against Paris Saint-Germain on penalties, they have won five, drawn two, and lost three of their previous 10 matches overall.
Even Salah’s goals have dried up at Wembley, where he has failed to find the net in four of his previous five matches.
Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and other three top players who are currently out of contract at the end of the season are among the others.
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Contract uncertainty
Mohamed Salah, an Egyptian striker for Liverpool, reacts to their defeat at Wembley Stadium in north-west London on March 16, 2025 following the English League Cup final football match between Liverpool and Newcastle United. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP)
All season, Slot has been plagued by questions about the players’ futures, with most of the time reporting on attempts to find novel ways to ask them.
But just two months before the domestic season’s end, their situation is still unresolved.
Van Dijk admitted last week that he had no idea whether he would play for Anfield after this season.
While there is still room for rumors that England international Alexander-Arnold will be lured to Real Madrid, Salah has been linked with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
Even if Liverpool are able to retain one or more of the trio, it seems as though the team are approaching the end of a cycle rather than the start.
Salah and goalkeeper Alisson Becker are both 33, while Van Dijk and Becker are both 32. Andy Robertson, a stats player, is only a year younger.
Under the leadership of Klopp, those players helped form the backbone of Klopp’s teams, who relentlessly hounded Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Manchester City, winning the Premier League and the Champions League.
When Slot arrived last year to take Klopp’s place, he had a lot of shoes to fill, but he didn’t suffer his second defeat until January.
In the upcoming weeks, Liverpool will only be able to claim their second top flight title in English history, beating only their previous defeat.
Slot will enjoy the moment while also being aware of the work that will be required.
