Trent Alexander-Arnold was met with mixed reactions from Liverpool fans during the club’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal on Sunday, after announcing he will leave at the end of the season. Alexander-Arnold, a product of Liverpool’s youth academy, confirmed his move to Real Madrid, and his first appearance since the news was met with audible jeers at Anfield.
According to AFP-JIJI, this marked a difficult moment for the 26-year-old, who has won two Premier League titles and a Champions League with the club.
Despite the boos, some fans clapped for Alexander-Arnold, acknowledging his contributions over the years. He was introduced as a 67th-minute substitute, but the crowd’s reaction was a mix of support and disappointment.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who had already dropped Alexander-Arnold from the starting lineup, commented that the crowd’s emotions were understandable, noting that he would not tell fans how to react.
Andrew Robertson, a teammate and close friend of Alexander-Arnold, expressed his dismay at seeing his friend booed. “It’s not nice to see a friend get booed,” Robertson said. “But as I said, we can’t tell people how to act.” Robertson’s words highlighted the human side of the situation, showing how tough it can be for players to witness negative reactions, even if they have made the decision to leave.
While some Liverpool fans were unhappy with the departure, there were also many who remained supportive, clapping and cheering for Alexander-Arnold’s past achievements. Slot echoed this sentiment, saying there were fans who both clapped and booed. “There were people who were not so happy, there were people who were happy for him,” he added, stressing that it would not be fair to focus only on the negative reactions.
As Alexander-Arnold prepares for his next chapter at Real Madrid, the debate over how his departure has been handled continues to stir emotions among Liverpool supporters.
However, Slot emphasized that his priority would always be winning games for Liverpool, regardless of the ongoing situation.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
