Trent Alexander-Arnold was booed by some Liverpool fans when he returned to Anfield with Real Madrid, but Jamie Carragher has defended the supporters’ reaction.
Jamie Carragher says Liverpool supporters were completely justified in their “terrible” response to Trent Alexander-Arnold when he returned to Anfield for the first time since leaving the club in the summer. The 27-year-old moved to Real Madrid in May this year after agreeing terms to his contract with Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who have less than a year left on their final contracts, have opted to remain with the Reds. Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave the club where he started his career with minimal financial compensation has left Anfield fans furious.
That anger was evident tonight as jeers echoed around the ground as the right-back returned to Merseyside. However, the England right-back remained a substitute.
read more: Arne Slott sends message to Trent Alexander-Arnold about reuniting Liverpool amid tensionsread more: Virgil van Dijk’s dream of moving to Real Madrid as Liverpool star accepts transfer
Peter Schmeichel found the reaction from Liverpool supporters to be “annoying” and “in some ways disgusting”. Jamie Carragher, who spent his entire senior career at Liverpool, guarded the Anfield crowd.
Carragher told CBS Sports: “I don’t agree with what was said there. I think it’s up to the supporters to decide what kind of reception he receives and the reason tonight will be poorly received, as I would expect, is because, as I said, Trent has played the role of ‘supporter on the pitch’ for the last 20 years.”
“So the supporters who are in this stadium will not leave on a free transfer to play for Real Madrid. Now, I understand, it’s his career, he has one career, he’s a young man and he’s had great success with the club.”
“But what he said after joining the team is that if that’s true, then Liverpool is the only team for him and he wants to be captain, he wants to be a legend here… He can’t leave when he’s just won the league title and has the chance to win more trophies with the club.
“And when you join a club that has beaten you twice in the Champions League final, it’s probably a club you want to compete with to win more Champions League finals.
“So the reaction from the supporters is completely understandable and a lot of it is because they feel a little bit cheated throughout the whole process of Trent being at the club.”
“And last year he hasn’t given any media interviews, obviously not involved in any of the buzz around him and Salah and Van Dijk.
“(Mohamed) Salah and (Virgil) Van Dijk have always been in the media saying they want to stay.
“Trent has been very quiet on this issue, so that’s a source of frustration for supporters.”
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