Jurgen Klopp criticises Liverpool fans for booing Trent Alexander-Arnold
The German, who is beloved on Merseyside after winning the Champions League, Premier League, FA and League Cups in a nine-year spell which ended last summer, said he switched off the television when he heard the jeers.
Unlike his successor Arne Slot, who said it was not his place to tell supporters how to react, Klopp did not hold back in his contempt for their behaviour.
'I don't want to tell anyone what they should think, I don't want to say what you have to think but I can tell you what you think is wrong. I am an old man and I don't waste time with hiding my opinion,' said Klopp, who was guest of honour at the LFC Foundation – of which he is an ambassador – Gala Ball.
'I watched the game when he came on and I heard the booing. I'm old so it my be my hearing so I turned up the volume and said 'That's booing'.
'I needed another 10 seconds to realise and then I switched the telly off. I honestly could not have been more disappointed in this moment. This is not us, 100 per cent.
'I don't tell you you should not be disappointed or angry, I tell you 'Don't forget'. This club does not forget. We are famous for not forgetting.
'We don't forget anything: we don't forget the good thing and we don't forget the bad thing. But we ignore the bad things and remember the good things.
'You don't have to be happy he is going but don't forget what he did for this club because I can't forget it.'
Klopp listed a whole number of occasions in which Alexander-Arnold had delivered for the club and stressed without his contribution they would not have had the success they did.
The England international has decided to bring an end his 20-year association with the club when his current deal expires in the summer and is expected to sign for Real Madrid.
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… pic.twitter.com/emAw5RvXq0
— Trent Alexander-Arnold (@TrentAA) May 5, 2025
Klopp said that he was well within his rights to do that and if anyone had the right to be angry it was owners Fenway Sports Group as it was their multi-million asset who was leaving on a free transfer.
'I was there every day – if he wouldn't have given everything, I would tell you now but every day he gave absolutely everything for this club and now, after 20 years, he has decided he wants to go somewhere else,' added the German, who said he had contemplated attending Sunday's final match of the season in an Alexander-Arnold shirt but did not want to detract from the Premier League trophy presentation.
'If someone should be angry it should be the owners – but they are not. 'Why didn't he sign a new contract?'. I hear this from fans, this money discussion: 'He goes without a transfer fee'.
'They (the owners) have to be angry. Not us but it is not about that. He gave absolutely everything and wears the Liverpool badge in the skin.
'This boy, 18 years old, scored a free-kick in Hoffenheim where if he doesn't score that we don't qualify for the Champions League.
'Against Barcelona he did the most cheeky thing in the world and set up the goal for 4-0, a result and a game which will not happen again.
'But now he plays next year for another club and we decide how we deal with that.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
10 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Liverpool set eye-watering Darwin Nunez price tag as Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal eye move ahead of Club World Cup deadline
Liverpool value Darwin Nunez in excess of £70million as they listen to offers this summer. Al Hilal are one of the clubs keen on the Uruguay international who is ready to leave Anfield after a lack of starting opportunities under Arne Slot. Al Nassr made enquiries to sign the 25-year old in January and were prepared to offer £70m but Liverpool were unwilling to listen at that stage as their focus was on winning the Premier League title. Now, with clubs circling and tension high for the Club World Cup deadline, Liverpool want in excess of what Al Nassr were willing to bid earlier in the year. Nunez is a popular figure at Anfield but only managed seven goals in all competitions last season. Still his energy and pace caused consternation in defences and Slot took to using him predominantly from the bench to help swing tight matches Liverpool's way. However, Liverpool are in the market for improvements and with the expected outlay for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz and Bournemouth 's Milos Kerkez, plus a possible striker and centre back to come later in the window, are looking at opportunities to offset their spending. A number of clubs are showing interest in Nunez but Al Hilal are weighing up a bid today after failing, so far, to tempt Napoli's Victor Osimhen. Sporting Lisbon's Manchester United target Viktor Gyokeres is another on their list. Al Nassr, meanwhile, are keen Liverpool's Luis Diaz but the only club to have made contact so far for the Colombian winger are Barcelona. Ajax want Liverpool goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros on loan. The Czech Republic international, 23, is well known to Ajax coach John Heitinga after working with him last season. Talks are ongoing for Wirtz and Kerkez. Bournemouth are willing to sell Kerkez after agreeing a fee with Rennes for left back Adrien Truffert.
Daily Mail
10 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
West Ham star Lucas Paqueta is baptised as he anxiously awaits verdict for spot-fixing trial which could see him face LIFETIME ban
West Ham star Lucas Paqueta has been baptised amid an anxious wait for the result of his FA spot-fixing trial. The Brazilian has been awaiting a verdict for nearly two years after an investigation into whether he intentionally collected cautions in four Premier League fixtures began in August 2023. Paqueta was charged by the FA in May 2024 and could face a lifetime ban if he is found guilty. The trial cost the 27-year-old a £80million move to Manchester City and West Ham boss Graham Potter admitted it had taken a mental and physical toll on the midfielder. He insists he is innocent of any wrongdoing and his wife Maria Fournier previously claimed the couple have been 'living this nightmare for two years'. The trial finally concluded last week but West Ham were warned it could take another four to eight weeks for Paqueta's fate to be revealed. The 27-year-old was baptised amid an anxious wait for the result of this spot-fixing trial As he nervously waits to see if his Premier League career is over, Paqeuta was baptised in front of his wife and Flamengo forward Pedro Guilherme. Wife Fournier shared snaps of the baptism, which took place in a swimming pool, alongside the caption: 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, EVERYTHING HAS BECOME NEW! 'My husband was born again!!' Paqueta's trial has been described as the most high‑profile corruption case in English football since Bruce Grobbelaar was acquitted of conspiring to fix five Premier League games in a criminal trial 27 years ago. The attacking midfielder could be banned for life if the panel examining the evidence decide he was involved in a conspiracy to collect cards in order to influence betting outcomes. While there is not yet any indication over whether he will be found innocent or guilty once the verdict arrives, West Ham sources have long feared the odds are stacked against them due to the FA's standard of proof being based on a 'balance of probabilities', which is usual in civil cases, as opposed to the more rigorous 'beyond a reasonable doubt' for those accused of criminal offences. Paqueta broke down in tears during one home game with Tottenham towards the end of last season when he received a yellow card, in a sign of the toll being taken on him. He did not start another game for West Ham under manager Potter after that Spurs incident. Mail Sport revealed that Paqueta was being investigated on August 18, 2023 and the FA formally charged him on May 23, 2024 with four counts of spot-fixing and two of obstructing their investigation. Insiders say Paqueta mentally built himself up for the beginning of his hearing on March 17, originally believing it would last no longer than three weeks. However, the scale of the evidence being evaluated meant it was not concluded within that timeframe, and further complications arose when it had to be placed on hiatus, seemingly because of scheduling issues surrounding those involved.
BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
Abramovich hopes for 'proper goodbye'
Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich says he wants to return to Stamford Bridge for "a proper goodbye", in his first interview since sanctions forced him to sell the club in oligarch, who the UK Government allege has strong links to Russian president Vladimir Putin, has not spoken since the sale of Chelsea and his last known interview was with Forbes in March an interview in Abu Dhabi in February for the book "Sanctioned" by Nick Purewal, Abramovich ruled out re-investing in Chelsea or, indeed, any other football club. But he said he wants to return to Stamford Bridge someday. "Perhaps one day there would be a situation where I could attend a match and say a proper goodbye, but nothing more than that," he is quoted as saying. He added: "I don't have any interest in any role in a football club, certainly not a professional role."Abramovich also says he still wants a resolution to the war in Ukraine, insisting his efforts to act as a peacekeeper in talks in Turkey in 2022 were is the first time he has spoken since he sold Chelsea for £2.5bn to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, who have overseen two underwhelming years before finishing fourth this season to qualify for the Champions League and winning the Conference League. Boehly, who also part-owns successful baseball franchise the LA Dodgers and basketball team the LA Lakers, said in the book: "If you look at our ambitions for the Dodgers and for the Lakers, you're here to win, and it's our business to win; and we're doing everything we can do to win. "Our goal with Chelsea is also to win silverware, because we know, and I know, how much it means to the fans. It makes you appreciate again that sport makes people happy, especially when you win. And Chelsea is supposed to win. "But I really believe that sustained success is an investment, and no matter what business I'm in, or any industry, there are no shortcuts."Meanwhile, Abramovich's comments have emerged just a week after the UK government threatened to sue him, with proceeds from the sale of the club still stuck in a frozen bank account. The UK government wants the money to be for Ukrainian humanitarian aid, but "all victims of the war in Ukraine".Chelsea are also under investigation by the Premier League for alleged irregular payments from Abramovich-era transfer activity.
