'I was booed by Liverpool fans - this is how Trent Alexander-Arnold will feel'

Metro

12-05-2025

Trent Alexander-Arnold was subjected to boos from Liverpool fans at Anfield during the Premier League clash against Arsenal.
Alexander-Arnold, who has been at Liverpool since the age of six, recently confirmed he would be leaving the club at the end of the season.
His decision comes following a lengthy contract dispute with Liverpool and amid interest from reigning European champions Real Madrid.
Anfield legend Jamie Carragher was among those to express his disappointment with Alexander-Arnold, who has made over 350 appearances for the Reds and helped his boyhood club win two Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Alexander-Arnold was named on Liverpool's bench for Sunday's clash with Arsenal and was booed as he warmed up on the side of the pitch.
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Those jeers ratchet up when the 26-year-old came on in the 67th minute and almost every time he touched the ball.
Carragher disagreed with the boos but insisted he understood the frustration from the fans, while fellow Liverpool hero Steve Nicol described the scenes as 'absolutely disgusting'.
Michael Owen knows better than most how it feels to be booed by Liverpool fans and said Alexander-Arnold will be 'mortified' and feel 'absolutely sick'.
Liverpool supporters were unhappy with Owen's decision to leave the club for Real Madrid in 2004 and made their feelings know when he returned to Anfield with subsequent clubs Newcastle United and Manchester United.
'For his own people to boo him, it's a big lump in your throat,' ex-England striker Owen said on Premier League Productions after Liverpool's draw with Arsenal.
'I remember sitting in the player's lounge after playing against Liverpool for Newcastle. Me and my family were in floods of tears because I'd just been booed by my own players.
'I still struggle to comprehend it so I'm probably the closest person on the planet that knows exactly what it feels like to be in Trent's shoes right now.
'He will be mortified. Trent will leave now knowing that people booed him and it's hard to get that out of your head, despite what's happened over the last 20 years.
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'I forget a lot of the good times and just remember the booing. It makes you feel absolutely sick.'
Owen added: 'I do question what Arne Slot will do in the remaining two games, especially the one at Anfield.
'They were chanting about Conor Bradley and Steven Gerrard. It wasn't the whole stadium. You will hear a minority of boos, it certainly wasn't the whole stadium.
'There are a lot of fans who want to thank and praise Trent for his contribution and rightly so.'
Andy Robertson, Alexander-Arnold's team-mate of eight years, admitted it was 'not nice' to hear the boos.
'But you can't tell people how to feel,' the Scottish defender said. 'That's how I feel about it and I'm not going to tell anyone else how to feel about it.
'Disappointed to lose a good friend, he's an amazing player and an amazing person. 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.'
Liverpool manager Arne Slot, meanwhile, said when asked about the reception his right-back received: 'Everybody can have their own opinion and you can express it in any way you want to.
'I heard mixed opinions but the only opinion I have is I owe it to the players and fans to try to win a game of football.
'And if Conor Bradley can't go on because he is tired and I have Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench, I will bring him in because we want to win this game of football. More Trending
'And he was very close for us to win it because he had two or three passes… What makes him so special, for me.
'It is quite simple: If I want to win, I bring him in and that's what I did. For the fans, they are entitled to have their own opinion.'
Alexander-Arnold is expected to join La Liga giants Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool.
Madrid, who look set to miss out on a trophy this season, tried to sign Alexander-Arnold in January but were knocked back by Liverpool.
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