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By TUM BALOGUN Published: 04: 02 AEDT, 27 November 2024 | Updated: 04: 03 AEDT, 27 November 2024 23 View comments Michael Owen has warned Trent Alexander-Arnold of the consequences of leaving Liverpool on a free transfer this summer.   The former Reds striker, at that point beloved by the Anfield faithful, completed a move to Real Madrid in 2004 and saw his standing in the eyes of supporters rapidly diminish.   In Owen's case, the final nail in the coffin came when he joined Manchester United in 2009 but even before that extraordinary move many who had sung his praises during an eight-year spell, which yielded more than 150 goals, had fallen out of love with their former idol.   An eerily similar situation now befalls Alexander-Arnold, whose contract expires at the end of the campaign and has been heavily linked with a move to the Spanish giants.   Owen believes that, in an ideal world, the 26-year-old's achievements for his boyhood club should spare him from ire of supporters but he concedes that an exit would ultimately colour the opinions of Reds fans.   'The Trent situation is an interesting one, ' the 44-year-old told The Telegraph. 'Trent has done everything for Liverpool. He adores Liverpool. If he goes, no one should begrudge him a different experience in his life and career. Michael Owen has warned Trent Alexander-Arnold of leaving his boyhood club for Real Madrid this summer The 26-year-olds current deal expires in the summer and he is free to speak to foreign clubs in January Owen completed a move to Madrid in the summer of 2004 after coming through the Reds academy and scoring 158 senior goals for the club 'Whatever happens he should be regarded as a hero. Sadly, it does affect the way people view you. It will tarnish him in some eyes even though it shouldn’t. ' Fortuitously, Arne Slot's side face the Spanish champions in a mouth-watering Champions League clash at Anfield on Wednesday, with Alexander-Arnold in line to return from a hamstring injury sustained in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa earlier this month.   The England international is free to talk to foreign clubs from January 1, with his deal expiring in June and no confirmation from the club that a new contract has been agreed with one of their star men.   Owen's story will no doubt serve as a warning to the full back, who would have been among the millions of Liverpool supporters jubilantly rejoicing after their heroic European Cup triumph in Istanbul in 2005.   The final came just a year after Owen had departed for La Liga and he was forced to endure the venom of fans when he returned to the English top-flight with Newcastle just 18 months after his Anfield exit.   'The moment I chose to go to Real Madrid I lost control of my career and what the perceptions of it are, ' he added. 'I don’t love going to Anfield now because I know I am not loved back. I tend to only go when I am working. 'It’s not that I dread going, but for a long time I used to bury my head when driving back to the academy to see friends. I have told myself since, I should not have been feeling like that. 'People say now: "It was because he signed for Manchester United. " But the whole world knows there has been some history rewritten there. There was resentment directed at me before then when I played for Newcastle, even though I had a clause in my Newcastle contract that I could re-sign for Liverpool every summer.   Alexander-Arnold has returned to first team training ahead of a huge week for the Anfield club 'The Manchester United aspect is now an easier stick to beat me with, but when I came back to Anfield for the first time as a Newcastle player, there were a few hundred, possibly a thousand supporters, booing me. 'I can’t forget how I, my parents, and my former Liverpool team-mates felt. Everyone who understood and appreciated the reality of the situation was disappointed on my behalf. '   Liverpool have the chance to extend their 100 per cent in the competition with a victory against the injury-hit defending champions.   Carlo Ancelotti's side sit precariously in 18th place in the League Phase with a record of two wins and two defeats at the halfway stage.   Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group