Steven Gerrard has opened up on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid, claiming the defender had everything he wanted in his club career.

“I totally understand everyone has the right [to go elsewhere]. It’s their careers, I’d never really want to interfere in anyone’s decision from a footballing perspective, of course, you do as a manager because you want to protect yourself and the club.

“Steve McManaman made the right decision, the Liverpool team he was playing in wasn’t competitive.

“I think it was a huge jump playing in that Liverpool team to Real Madrid, so from a footballing perspective, that was a no-brainer. I think 9/10 people would have jumped into that and over time Liverpool fans understood why.

“I think Trent is very different because he was playing in arguably one of the best Liverpool teams ever, one of the favourites for the Champions League, they’re already winning leagues. Trent had, in the palm of his hands, what I craved all of my career. I still look back now and wish I achieved what he has.

“So I think Trent’s decision was probably a lot more difficult than Macca’s. Mine was somewhere in the middle, where we were in the conversation and competing for domestic cups but Man United, Arsenal and Chelsea were much stronger, it was tempting and financially they were offering double.

“For me, it was more ‘how am I going to stay as one of the best midfield players in the PL and how am I gonna keep my England place? What is the best thing from a football perspective?’ That was what was going through my mind.”