Trent Alexander-Arnold was met with mixed reactions from Liverpool supporters during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Anfield, receiving both applause and boos in his first appearance since announcing his decision to leave the club at the end of the season.
The 26-year-old right-back, who is expected to join Real Madrid this summer, was introduced in the 67th minute to a chorus of conflicting emotions.
While some fans cheered the homegrown star, others booed as he took to the pitch and during several touches of the ball.
Andrew Robertson, Liverpool’s vice-captain, expressed his disappointment at the reception for his long-time teammate.
“There’s a lot of emotion around it, for Trent, it’s not been an easy one. Of course it’s not. But he’s made the decision.
“It’s not nice to see a friend get booed, it wasn’t nice. But as I said, we can’t tell people how to act.
“I can’t tell you how I feel about it, I’m extremely proud of him. I love him as a player, I love him as a friend. He will be missed as one of my best friends in the game.” Robertson said
Alexander-Arnold, a product of Liverpool’s youth academy, has won two Premier League titles and the Champions League during his time with the club.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot opted to start 21-year-old Conor Bradley, viewed as the natural successor to Alexander-Arnold. The crowd was notably vocal in support of Bradley throughout the game.
Speaking after the match, Slot addressed the divided fan reaction.
“There were people who were not so happy, there were people who were happy for him. They clapped for him. A few of them booed.
“I will always back my players, the ones I lead and wear the red shirt.
“It would not be fair to focus only on the Liverpool fans that booed. If they want to, it’s fine but there were a lot of people that were really positive about him as well.” he saud
Slot confirmed that Alexander-Arnold remains in contention for Liverpool’s final two matches of the season against Brighton and Crystal Palace.
“The thing I consider is I want to win a game of football and if we think we can win with Trent, I owe it to his team-mates and to the fans, because they hired me to win as many games of football as possible,” he said.
“And if I think there’s a better chance of winning with Trent, then I will pick him.
“If I think it’s a distraction or whatever can happen for us not to play a good game of football, then I might make another decision.”
Alexander-Arnold would be the latest Liverpool star to make the move to Real Madrid, following in the footsteps of Steve McManaman and Michael Owen in previous decades — transfers that left lasting bitterness among sections of the fanbase.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also criticized the booing, emphasizing the loyalty players show when they represent the club.
“That’s the story of the game. That’s what we will be talking about after the game, and the back pages of every newspaper tomorrow,” he said.
“I’m surprised how many. When you’re in a crowd of 60,000, there’s no doubt there’s a lot of unhappy people at Liverpool about the situation, and I’ve said that’s understandable.
“But for me, I don’t believe that any player putting that red shirt on, going out to play for the club and trying to win them points or win them trophies should be booed.”
