Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has insisted that those inside the dressing room at Anfield will think differently about the Trent Alexander-Arnold situation compared to how fans feel.
Alexander-Arnold, who was booed this weekend during the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Arsenal, will soon be confirmed as a Real Madrid player with the Liverpool number 66 having announced just under a week ago that he would be leaving when his contract expires.
Arne Slot left him on the bench against the Gunners until the second half when he replaced a tiring Conor Bradley, who had been cautioned for a late tackle. Bradley had done well but was beginning to look jaded.
“Teammates in the dressing room would rally around most people 99 per cent of the time,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “Supporters of any football club, or Liverpool right now, probably wouldn’t want to hear this.
“But most players in that Liverpool dressing room probably want to play for Real Madrid. I’ve been in the dressing room, players left us to go to Barcelona, Real Madrid, so it’s really hard for supporters.
“You almost feel like they fall for it every time, in some ways, when you think ‘this player absolutely loves us’, and then they move on and go somewhere else.
(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
“Players don’t think like supporters. Players in the dressing room think ‘I’d love to play for Real Madrid’. They would.”
Earlier, Carragher had moved to criticize those who chose to boo Alexander-Arnold inside Anfield. The jeers were audible pre-match when the player’s name was read out and then again when he entered the field.
“That’s the story of the game,” Carragher said on the live television coverage of the match in the UK.
“That’s what we will be talking about after the game, and the back pages of every newspaper.
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“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.”
Liverpool.com says: Fans are entitled to feel how they want about the situation but as Alexander-Arnold said himself when he announced his decision to leave, the rest of the season should not be overshadowed by that.
Liverpool has won the Premier League title and the key components of that victory should be celebrated in the weeks to come. Instead, something else risks taking the limelight, which wouldn’t be a fair reflection on how the campaign has unfolded.
