Liverpool fans let Trent Alexander-Arnold know what they feel about his decision to leave the club as he was met with boos as he entered Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.
The defender was named on the bench for the game, just days after he confirmed he would be departing Anfield for Real Madrid at the end of the season.
Conor Bradley started in his place but Alexander-Arnold was brought on in the second half as the Gunners fought their way back into the game after falling 2-0 down.
Viewers were waiting to see how Alexander-Arnold would be received and the Anfield crowd made their thoughts clear.
Boos rung around the ground as the Englishman made his way onto the pitch before chants of ‘there’s only one Conor Bradley’ broke out.
And Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was not impressed as he admitted his surprise and said that booing your own players is not something he is comfortable with.
The England international will join Madrid on a free transfer after emerging through Liverpool’s youth ranks to become one of the club’s most important players under Jurgen Klopp and Slot.
In a statement on social media, Alexander-Arnold wrote on May 5: ‘After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season. This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life.
‘I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven’t spoken about this yet, but it was always my intention to keep my full focus on the team’s best interests, which was securing No.20.
‘This club has been my whole life – my whole world – for 20 years. From the Academy right through until now, the support and love I have felt from everyone inside and outside of the club will stay with me forever. I will forever be in debt to you all.
‘But, I have never known anything else and this decision is about experiencing a new challenge, taking myself out of my comfort zone and pushing myself both professionally and personally.
‘I’ve given my all every single day I’ve been at this club, and I hope you feel like I’ve given back to you during my time here. From the bottom of my heart, I thank everybody – my coaches, my managers, my teammates, the staff and our incredible supporters – for the last 20 years.
‘I’ve been blessed enough to live out my dreams here and I will never, ever take for granted the special moments I’ve been fortunate enough to have lived through with you all. My love for this club will never die’.
Alexander-Arnold’s exit has been widely criticised by large groups of Liverpool supporters, who feel let down by the defender’s decision to run his contract down and leave on a free transfer.
