Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports
Topics: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid
Josh Lawless
Topics: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold had a telling reaction to being booed by large sections of Anfield when he came on a substitute against Arsenal.
On Monday, after endless speculation and links to Real Madrid, Alexander-Arnold confirmed he will leave Liverpool on a free at the end of the season - ending a 20-year association with his boyhood club.
The clash with Arsenal was Alexander-Arnold's first game since the announcement about moving on to a new challenge and he was left on the bench, with Conor Bradley given the nod at right-back.
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He was brought on in the 67th minute but his introduction was met with a chorus of boos from the Liverpool supporters who cheered the local lad ever since he broke into the side under Jurgen Klopp.
Fans also chanted for Bradley in another brutal blow to Alexander-Arnold, who played Mikel Merino onside for Arsenal's second goal.
As expected, all cameras were focused on the 26-year-old and though he was concentrated, Alexander-Arnold did appear to have a sort of wink of sorts just as Gary Neville picked up on the "unpleasant" reaction on Sky Sports commentary.
The context behind the apparent gesture is not known and could have been acknowledging his teammates.
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Alexander-Arnold was booed every time he touched the ball in the early stages of his cameo but proceeded to applaud the fans as he left the pitch at the end of the game, which finished 2-2.
His final game for Liverpool will be at Anfield against Crystal Palace, with Arne Slot's men lifting the Premier League trophy afterwards on 25 May.
Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, Andy Robertson said it "wasn't nice" to hear Alexander-Arnold being loudly booed but stressed he was "not going to tell anyone how to feel".
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“He’s an amazing player and an amazing person," the Scotland international stated.
"He has pushed me through and made me a better player. His legacy will always be there, he’s done so much for this club. He will be missed for me as one of my best friends in the game, we’ve done it all together.
“He’s took me to levels I never knew existed. It hasn’t been an easy one for Trent but he has made the decision. It was not nice to see him get booed but you can’t tell people how to feel. That’s how I feel about it and I’m not going to tell anyone else how to feel about it."
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Meanwhile, Slot said that fans are "allowed to have their own opinion" and said he noticed plenty of supporters who were "really positive".
Stating that it was a "nice thing" that fans chanted for Steven Gerrard and Bradley, he told fans that, "they can have the reaction they want but I will always back the players I lead and pick players who can win the game".
Alexander-Arnold has played 352 times for Liverpool, winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
He is poised to sign a five-year contract at Real and it has been reported that he is in line to earn €15 million per year at the Santiago Bernabeu.