'He took a big risk' - Steven Gerrard fires warning to Trent Alexander-Arnold as Liverpool legend opens up on Real Madrid transfer talks with Jose Mourinho

Despite completing a dream move to Santiago Bernabeu this summer, Alexander-Arnold has not had the ideal start to his journey with Madrid. The full-back picked up a hamstring injury and had to be subbed off in the eighth minute of their La Liga clash against Real Sociedad last month. He is not expected to return until November.

Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Liverpool icon Gerrard said of Alexander-Arnold's move: "I wouldn't have done it. I just think he took a big risk on. He's an extremely good footballer, a very talented footballer. One of the best passers I've ever seen. He's in the conversation with (David) Beckham and (Paul) Scholes, no problem. But to leave Liverpool, where he was in his prime years, getting offered a new contract, he took a risk on. He's living that risk now. I hope it works for him because I love the kid. Love the kid to bits."

Gerrard further revealed that he had also received a similar offer from Los Blancos when Mourinho was in charge of the club, but he turned it down. The England legend said: "If I take my Liverpool hat off, I think any player in the game when Barcelona and Real Madrid come, it's going to turn your head. This is me speaking without my Liverpool hat on at the moment. Real Madrid came for me with Jose Mourinho, seriously. And it turned my head. It didn't get as much traction and noise as Chelsea because it was shut down pretty quick because of the timing of it and what Real Madrid wanted me to do to manufacture that. 

"So it never got the traction or the noise, but it turned my head. 'Real Madrid and Barcelona, whether you like it or not, if you're a Manchester United or fan, they're two humongous clubs. And when they come, it's going to turn your head. No matter who you are, it's going to turn your head. Or you're not human. So I can understand it from being in Trent's shoes. I can understand it. I get it. His best mate (Jude Bellingham) plays there. Maybe he wants to challenge himself. He's won everything at Liverpool. So there's a part of me that really understands it."

He added: "But as soon as I put my Liverpool hat back on… what are you doing? You're arguably one of the best teams in Europe. You're winning things that I sit here now and still dream of winning. You're winning European Cups. You're one of the main men. The fans adore you. What are you doing? But this is with my Liverpool hat on, because I love Liverpool football club."

Podcast host Ferdinand then asked Gerrard if he feels he deserves a statue at Anfield, to which the 45-year-old said: "I don't need a statue to feel the love of Liverpool. There's enough. There's been enough. My respect for Liverpool has only gone stronger and thicker and more fonder since the day I retired. Liverpool have given me more love and care and respect since I've stopped playing for them."