Liverpool fans have been criticised by Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand for their treatment of Trent Alexander-Arnold on Sunday.
The Reds full-back was loudly booed by sections of the Anfield crowd during their 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
Sky SportsCarragher has come to the defence of the Liverpool full-back[/caption]
Alexander-Arnold was met with a hostile reception as he replaced Conor Bradley in the 67th minute and the boos continued whenever he received the ball for the rest of the game.
It was the 26-year-old’s first appearance since confirming he will leave the club at the end of the season.
The England international will depart after 21 years with Liverpool once his contract expires this summer.
He is expected to complete a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid on a five-year deal.
However, Jamie Carragher was critical of the crowd’s reaction to Alexander-Arnold’s introduction against the Gunners.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ coverage, the former Reds hero admitted: “That’s the story of the game. That’s what we will be talking about after the game, and the back pages of every newspaper.
“I’m surprised how many. For me, I don’t believe any player putting on that red shirt who goes on to win trophies should be being booed.
“Booing one of your own players while they’re playing is not for me.”
Carragher later added: “Supporters of any club wouldn’t want to hear this, but most players in that dressing room probably want to play for Real Madrid.
“I’ve been in that dressing room, with players who have left us for Real Madrid or Barcelona.
AFPThe clash with Arsenal is set to be his penultimate appearance at Anfield for Liverpool[/caption]
“It’s sometimes really hard for supporters. You feel like they fall for it every time, that a player loves them and then moves on.”
Rio Ferdinand had a similar response on social media, writing on X: “I can’t believe @LFC fans booing one of their own.
“I understand that some of you guys are not happy with his decision etc BUT to boo @TrentAA after he has won the lot with you is baffling! Didn’t cost you a penny.”
Since coming through the club’s academy, Alexander-Arnold has made 353 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 23 goals and providing 92 assists.
He has also won nine trophies with the Reds, including two Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Club World Cup.
Arne Slot didn’t take as hard a line as Carragher and Ferdinand when asked about the boos for Alexander-Arnold.
The Dutchman told Sky Sports: “First of all, they sang for Steven Gerrard – which is a nice thing to do, I think. They also sang for Conor Bradley which is also nice, because he deserves it. Conor played a very good game.
“Just before Trent took the free-kick, I heard more people clapping for him, hoping that he’d score, than people booing him.
“Everyone has the right to their own opinion, but it would not be fair to the whole of Liverpool to focus on the few that booed.
“If they want to, it’s fine by me. But there were a lot of people who were really positive as well.”
Meanwhile, Andy Robertson also addressed the incident, stating: “There’s a lot of emotion around it.
“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. In the game, we’ve done it all together. He’s an amazing player and person. He’s made me a better player and that comes from the bottom of my heart.
“He’s taken me to levels where I never knew existed. He kept pushing me through the good years. And he’s made a choice.
“His legacy at this club is obvious there to see. The trophies he’s won, the moments he’s had in history will always be there. It’s an emotional decision.
“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, it wasn’t nice. But as I said, we can’t tell people how to act.
“I can’t tell you how I feel about it, I’m extremely proud of him. I love him as a player, I love him as a friend. He will be missed as one of my best friends in the game.”
The draw with Arsenal is set to be Alexander-Arnold’s penultimate appearance at Anfield as a Liverpool player.
Fans will have the opportunity to see him in red one more time against Crystal Palace on the final day of the season on May 25.
