Trent Alexander-Arnold said he understood Liverpool fans' frustration at his decision to leave the club at the end of the season. 

Alexander-Arnold's current contract expires at the end of June, and he confirmed in a video on Monday that he intends to seek a fresh challenge away from Anfield. 

The 26-year-old has been linked with a move to Real Madrid after months of speculation, though nothing has been formally agreed between the two clubs. 

Alexander-Arnold rose to prominence on Merseyside under former manager Jurgen Klopp, and has gone on to turn out 352 times for the Reds across all competitions. 

No player has recorded more Premier League assists as a defender than Alexander-Arnold (64), while he also leaves having won eight major honours with the club. 

Alexander-Arnold accepted his decision would be seen as contentious after outlining his desire to challenge himself elsewhere next season. 

In a sit-down chat with Liverpool's official website, Alexander-Arnold said: "I've been a fan of this club my whole life, it has given me the opportunity to go and do everything I've done, to achieve everything. 

"So, I understand that. Growing up, seeing players leave that I've loved watching and have helped the team win trophies, you feel a connection to the players that you watch, especially when they bring success to the club as well.

"So, I completely understand the feelings that go with that, and I've felt it myself, so I completely understand that the news will disappoint a lot of people, will anger people, it will make them upset.

"Obviously, that went into the decision as well – it's something you don't want to do, you don't want to ever have these moments where you feel like you’re letting a lot of people down, you're disappointing a lot of people.

"But I've had to make a decision for myself. It's as simple as that. It's a difficult one, it's one that has played on my mind for a long time, but being able now to get it off my chest will feel like a weight is lifted. And I think it's important for the fans to know where I stand and know what the truth is."

Alexander-Arnold was one of three high-profile names at Liverpool whose contracts were up at the end of their title-winning Premier League campaign. 

Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah put pen to paper on fresh terms, but the Reds were unable to tie down Alexander-Arnold, who will now leave the club for nothing. 

But the England international revealed he was close to extending his stay on Merseyside, while also discussing his relationship with new boss, Arne Slot. 

"[Signing a contract] was a massive possibility. I've got full confidence in the manager and the staff and the club going forward," Alexander-Arnold added. 

"It's not about me thinking we're not going to fight for titles or fight for trophies season in, season out, because I knew from the first few moments with the manager that he was a winner. He was aiming to go and win things.

"And you've seen that this season with the way that we've played. So it was never about not having confidence in that, it just boiled down to what I felt I needed, and that is a change.

"That's something I need to do on my personal journey as a person, but also as a player and a professional, to go and challenge myself elsewhere. I feel like a challenge in a different environment is something I need to do as a player."

Alexander-Arnold now has three matches remaining for Liverpool, with Slot's team facing Arsenal, Brighton and Crystal Palace in their final league games of the season. 

Writing in his column for The Telegraph, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes that Liverpool supporters have every right to feel upset by Alexander-Arnold's decision. 

Carragher acknowledged Madrid's pedigree and position at the top of the football pyramid, but argued home-grown players like Alexander-Arnold risk losing their legacy for short-term success. 

"Players are loved even more when they genuinely mean it when they say they do not want to play for anyone else," Carragher wrote. 

"If that image of the home-grown talent living the dream is an illusion, people feel let down.

"By leaving Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold is making it harder for his own club to win its 21st league title and seventh European Cup. That is bound to stir emotions.

"With Monday's statement, the unconditional support Alexander-Arnold enjoyed from the Kop when he was fully committed to Liverpool has gone."

Alexander-Arnold, however, outlined his ambitions for his final games as a Liverpool player. 

"I'm just hoping that we're able to carry on winning games. The noise doesn't take away from the fact of what we’ve achieved this season," Alexander-Arnold said. 

"It has been an amazing season, it has been amazing to be part of it and I just hope that everyone is able to maybe not dwell on this news for too long and be able to celebrate what the rest of the lads have done.

"Don't let this cast a dark cloud over the season and let everyone celebrate what we’ve achieved as a club. And to enjoy the home and away games, the guards of honour, the celebrations, everything that comes with it.

"I'm hoping we're able to celebrate it together. I know the news will take a bit of time to set in and people won't be happy, and they'll be disappointed.

"At the end of the day, you can be angry and hurt at me, but I just hope that the lads, the rest of the team, the staff, everyone else is able to feel how good a season this has been and able to feel the love and support from the fans as they have done all season."