Jamie Carragher has called on Liverpool‘s supporters to channel their frustration in a different way after thousands of them booed Trent Alexander-Arnold at Anfield on Sunday.
Alexander-Arnold’s substitute appearance against Arsenal was his first outing since he announced he will leave the club at the end of the season last week.
It gave fans the opportunity to show Alexander-Arnold what they think of his impending departure, and many of them responded by booing the 26-year-old.
There were also chants of “there’s only one Conor Bradley” as well as a chant about former skipper Steven Gerrard, who famously stayed at Liverpool throughout his top-level career amid interest from higher-performing clubs.
Carragher believes chanting positively about the likes of Bradley and Gerrard is the right thing to do, rather than venting negatively in the direction of Alexander-Arnold.
He also thinks that it might be wise for Arne Slot not to use Alexander-Arnold again this season; if Slot heeds that advice, that would mean Alexander-Arnold has already played his last game for Liverpool.
“He doesn’t have to get results right now, the title is won,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “I think the manager will have been shocked by how vociferous it (the reaction to Alexander-Arnold coming on) was. You can expect frustration.
“That might be his last game for this club and that might be the right thing, if Trent does continue to play — and that is up in the air — is to sing about Steven Gerrard or Conor Bradley. Liverpool and Arne Slot don’t need a circus for the rest of the season. He is moving on.
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“He doesn’t need to be brought on against Palace. I don’t know about a send off or anything like that. He is choosing to leave. I don’t agree with that today but I don’t think he should have a send-off and deliver a speech. Sing other players’ names, don’t boo someone in a red shirt.”
Speaking earlier on in the broadcast, Carragher said: “I was surprised by how many [were booing]. When there is a crowd of 60,000, there is undoubtedly going to be some people unhappy with the situation. I have said that is understandable.
“I said it when he came on at Leicester, any player putting on that red shirt to play for this club should not be booed. I understand there is some ill-feeling and a lot of people outside of Liverpool don’t get that; I do, but booing one of your own players is not for me.”
