Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool and the booing of one of their own

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Alexander-Arnold replaces Bradley and the mood changes (Peter Powell/AFP via Getty Images)

The boos and the jeers which accompanied the sight of Alexander-Arnold stepping on to the field grew louder each time he touched the ball.

They emanated from a significant minority of the home supporters determined to vent their spleen at the vice-captain as he graced Anfield for the first time since last Monday’s public announcement.

Alexander-Arnold looked shellshocked and so did many of his team-mates. Not only was it brutal, it was also unprecedented.

What happened to you’ll never walk alone? Clearly, you do in some people’s eyes if you run down your contract and decide to move to Real Madrid for nothing.

Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva was once booed by Liverpool fans when he was struggling for form during a dour stalemate at home to Fulham in November 2008, but it wasn’t either as sustained or as vitriolic as this.

Not even Roy Hodgson received this kind of treatment in the dark days of 2010-11 as his abject side lurched towards a relegation battle. He was only subjected to ironic chants of ‘Hodgson for England’ before getting the sack.

There was nothing playful about this and it proved to be self-destructive as Arsenal fed off all the negativity. Squabbles broke out in the stands as fans argued amongst themselves over how Alexander-Arnold was being treated. This was the day that the title party turned sour.

Alexander-Arnold was shellshocked by the treatment he was receiving (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Having already halved the deficit through Gabriel Martinelli, Mikel Arteta’s side soon equalised through Mikel Merino, whose subsequent sending off for a second yellow card belatedly helped Liverpool to stem the tide.

“There’s a lot of emotion around it,” left-back Andy Robertson, one of Alexander-Arnold’s closest friends, told Sky Sports. “It’s crucial in these moments that I don’t tell you how to feel and you don’t tell me how to feel about it. All I can do is tell you how I feel about it.

“First of all, I’m disappointed to lose my best mate. He’s an amazing player and person. His legacy at this club is there to see. The trophies he’s won, the moments he’s had in history will always be there. I’m extremely proud of him. For Trent, it’s not been an easy one. Of course it’s not, but he’s made the decision. It’s not nice to see a friend get booed.”

To his credit, Alexander-Arnold didn’t hide. He kept demanding the ball and would have created a golden chance for fellow substitute Darwin Nunez if the Uruguayan’s control hadn’t let him down.

Alexander-Arnold took responsibility with a free kick which he curled just wide and, then deep into stoppage time at the end, provided another inviting cross which just eluded the on-rushing Diogo Jota and Nunez.

Rather than make a beeline for the tunnel straight after the final whistle he went to applaud all four sides of Anfield as he was subjected to more boos. Luis Diaz wrapped a consoling arm around him as Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai looked genuinely taken aback by the reaction from the stands. He remains a popular figure in the dressing room and they were hurting for him.

A grim-faced Alexander-Arnold applauds the fans at the end (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

For some supporters, a sense of anger and upset stems from the fact Alexander-Arnold is leaving on a free transfer. They can’t understand why someone who previously talked about wanting to captain his boyhood club would want to walk out the door just after Liverpool have been crowned Premier League champions.

But others believe that, having clocked up more than 350 appearances and won the lot with the club he joined at the age of six, he’s earned the right t0 pursue a fresh challenge in a new country and depart with his head held high.

What’s undeniable is that the sight of someone who has contributed so much to Liverpool’s success in the modern era being subjected to such treatment on Sunday was deeply uncomfortable. Anfield season-ticket holder and UK member of parliament for Liverpool West Derby Ian Byrne posted on X: “You never boo a Liverpool player who pulls on that precious red shirt ever.”

You never boo a Liverpool player who pulls on that precious red shirt ever.

— lan Byrne MP (@IanByrneMP) May 11, 2025

Arne Slot knew what was going to dominate the narrative when he arrived for his post-match press conference. As he took a seat, he smiled and asked the assembled reporters: “Who is going to start with the first Trent question?” Six of them followed.

Of course, Slot could have avoided the situation entirely by leaving Alexander-Arnold on the bench, but this wasn’t on him. Bradley was clearly tiring having struggled at times defensively in the second half. Yes, Slot could have brought on Jarell Quansah instead, but he wanted to give Liverpool the best possible chance of winning the game.

How was Slot to know that the atmosphere would turn so toxic? The Dutch head coach knew for certain two months ago that he would be losing Alexander-Arnold in the summer. The reason he’s continued to select him when fit is because his attitude and application has been unwavering. Why cast him aside now?

“It’s a privilege to live in Europe where everyone can have their own opinion and express their own opinion. That is what we saw today,” Slot said diplomatically.

“All of them were not happy with him leaving the club, a few of them showed it by booing him and a few of them clapped. Was it half and half? Was it 60-40? If you clap it is not as loud as if you boo but I didn’t count them.

“I owe it to the players in the dressing room to make decisions to try to win the game. If I think there is a better chance of winning it with Trent I will (play him).”

This news was originally published on this post .

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