The worst kept secret is out; Trent Alexander-Arnold is leaving Liverpool.
In truth, it has only been a matter of time until either the club or the player himself made an official announcement, and Alexander-Arnold broke the news just after 10am on Monday morning in a classic piece-to-camera.
The 26-year-old will end a golden two decades at Anfield with two Premier League titles, one Champions League, nine major honours in total and over 100 direct goal contributions from over 350 appearances across all competitions, numbers that could still improve between now and the end of the season.
However, with Alexander-Arnold jumping ship for arguably Liverpool's biggest non-Premier League rival in Real Madrid, he may find himself walking alone if he ever returns to Merseyside, as the reaction to his departure has not exactly been savoury.
The England international has nevertheless treated Reds fans to a plethora of glorious goals down the years, though, and here, Sports Mole picks out his best five in a Liverpool shirt.
5. Hoffenheim 1-2 Liverpool (Champions League Qualifying | August 15, 2017)
Officially kicking off Liverpool's journey to the 2017-18 Champions League final, Alexander-Arnold started for Jurgen Klopp's side in their opening qualifier against Hoffenheim and lined up a free kick a good 27 yards from goal after the speedy Sadio Mane was hauled down on the counter-attack.
The then-teenage Alexander-Arnold was yet to score for the Reds at this point, but in typical Alexander-Arnold fashion, he was unfazed as he sent an astonishing set-piece - the first of many - into the bottom corner.
The right-back celebrated his first goal with as much passion as he did his most recent - and possibly last - against Leicester City just a couple of weeks ago, and that stellar strike against Hoffenheim would mark the start of his breakthrough year.
4. Liverpool 9-0 Bournemouth (Premier League | August 27, 2022)
I refuse to believe any Bournemouth fans are taking in some of Alexander-Arnold's best goals, but if any of the Cherries faithful are, best look away now.
Alexander-Arnold contributed to the record-equalling 9-0 annihilation of the South Coast side in August 2022, scoring the Reds' third goal of the afternoon as he linked up with Roberto Firmino before finding the top corner with a right-footed rocket.
Cherries goalkeeper Mark Travers did his best, but his dive and reach was futile as Alexander-Arnold celebrated in a quintessential nonchalant manner, before his rampant Reds side scored another six against the beleaguered visitors.
3. Leicester City 0-3 Liverpool (Premier League | May 15, 2023)
Several months after his beauty against Bournemouth, Alexander-Arnold scored his second and final goal of the 2022-23 Premier League season, one that - in our eyes at least - trumped his first.
Klopp's men visited Leicester City in May 2023, and after Curtis Jones's brace had already put Liverpool in cruise control, Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah stood over a free kick 25 yards from goal.
Salah had already set up both of Jones's strikes, and the electrifying Egyptian ended the day with a hat-trick of assists, casually rolling the free kick into the path of Alexander-Arnold to fire a thunderbolt of a first-time strike into the top corner.
2. Liverpool 5-3 Chelsea (Premier League | July 22, 2020)
Before the 2019-20 season was plunged into disarray during the COVID-19 pandemic, Alexander-Arnold had already scored one screamer against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and repeated the trick in front of an empty Anfield in July.
Klopp's crop were already parading around their Premier League trophy by the time the Blues visited, and an Alexander-Arnold set-piece was preceded by the memorable argument between the Liverpool boss and Frank Lampard on the touchline.
Taking no notice of the fracas, Alexander-Arnold bent an astounding free kick over the wall and into the top corner past a stranded Kepa Arrizabalaga, as Liverpool came out on top in an eight-goal extravaganza.
1. Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle United (Premier League | December 16, 2021)
During the earliest days of Eddie Howe's Newcastle reign, the Magpies were on course to spring a surprise at Anfield in December 2021, when Jonjo Shelvey drew first blood for the visitors inside just seven minutes.
However, Diogo Jota and Salah turned the game on its head in favour of the Reds, who were subsequently attacking the Kop end in the second half, and Alexander-Arnold treated those fans to arguably his best-ever strike in the shirt.
After Firmino played the ball back to his defender almost 30 yards from goal, Alexander-Arnold took one touch, pulled the trigger with his right foot and found the top corner with the cleanest strike imaginable.
Ben Knapton
