Steven Gerrard recently reflected on Liverpool’s current crossroads and his comments have carried extra weight. Gerrard said he “would not have left like Trent did,” a statement that underlines his enduring loyalty to the club and serves as a stark contrast to the recent departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Softfootball reports.
Liverpool has now lost three straight games across all competitions for the first time since 2023. The most recent of those defeats came in a 2-1 loss to Chelsea, sealed by a stoppage-time goal.This downturn is not just about missed opportunities; it’s about a club in need of something more than just tactics a club in need of belief.
As Liverpool endure a crisis in form, Gerrard’s words feel more than just nostalgia ,they feel like a call to remember what it means to stay for the colours, for the fight, for the identity. The Liverpool legend has offered a brutally honest reflection on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shock move to Real Madrid a transfer that has left many fans questioning loyalty and ambition.
Speaking on a podcast alongside Manchester Uniteds legend Rio ferdinard via Rio Ferdinard presents official youtube page, Gerrard admitted he completely understands why the England full-back made the decision, even if his heart as a Liverpool icon struggles to accept it, he stated;
This is me speaking without my Liverpool hat on at the moment. Real Madrid came for me with Mourinho, serious. And it turned my head. I can understand it. I get it. His best mate 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. But as soon as I put my Liverpool hat back on, I think, what are you doing? 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.
Much of the criticism has focused on ascendant concerns about how Liverpool have coped without the creative influence of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Before his departure to Real Madrid, Trent’s overlapping runs, his precise deliveries, and his vision offered Mohamed Salah consistent service and created space on the right flank.
With him gone, the chemistry felt disrupted. Analysts and fans both suggest that Salah’s decline this season more evident in his finishing, his effect in open play, and his ability to influence decisive moments ,has been exacerbated by the loss of that unique partnership.
Interestingly, Softfootball earlier published an opinion piece on Mo Salah and how departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold has affected His Output and Performances this Season. In it, we argued that while Salah remains the club’s talisman, many of his best moments depended heavily on the overlapping runs, the creative rhythm, and the intelligent movement that Trent provided. Those moments are no longer as frequent, and the pressure is mounting to reimagine a balanced offensive spine.
However, Gerrard’s own career at Liverpool helps sharpen the contrast. He joined the club as a boy, forged into a leader, and stayed through seasons of disappointment as well as triumph. There were moments when other clubs Manchester United, Chelsea, and other european giants like Real Madrid came knocking, but Gerrard chose to remain.
He helped Liverpool achieve multiple FA Cups and League Cups, a Uefa Champions League and Europa League triumph, all while serving as captain. His legacy is built in part not just on his incredible performances, but on a steadfastness choosing investment in collective identity over the quick allure of greener pastures.
In that light, Gerrard’s recent comment, that he “would not have left like Trent did” is not just criticism of a departure. It is a reflection of what he sees missing now: continuity, connection, loyalty, leadership. Interestingly still on the Rio Ferdinard Presents podcast, liverpool legend touched on other topics like his relationship with other england teammates and why they didnt win anything as they were considered the golden generation at that time.Watch the full podcast video below;
As Liverpool wrestle with three losses in succession, with key moments slipping away late, there is an underlying question over who among the current crop will rise to fill the void left by Trent and whether the club still has the same core sense of togetherness.
Liverpool now face the challenge of reestablishing structure, redefining roles, and rediscovering the unity that turned them into champions. The losses back to back, rare in recent memory are telling. But perhaps Gerrard’s words serve as a reminder that success is not only about what you build, but about what you stay for, who you stay with, and how you persist when everything comes crumbling.
