‘So pathetic’: Football world rocked as Liverpool legend Trent Alexander-Arnold booed by own fans

Liverpool legend Trent Alexander-Arnold has been mercilessly booed by his own fans after announcing he was leaving the club after 20 years.

Liverpool legend Trent Alexander-Arnold was loudly booed by Liverpool fans after coming on against Arsenal.

The 26-year-old defender, who has spent his entire youth and played 258 senior matches at Liverpool, this week confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season upon the expiration of his contract.

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Alexander-Arnold was brought on in the 66th minute as Arne Slot decided to rest some key players.

But his introduction was met with a wave of boos from the Anfield crowd.

The Kop had already sung club legend Steven Gerrard’s name when they saw Alexander-Arnold getting ready to come on.

Gerrard famously stuck with his hometown club in his heyday despite advances from Chelsea.

While there were also cries in support of the player he replaced, with fans singing: “There’s only one Conor Bradley!”

Alexander-Arnold covered his mouth as he entered the field of play, and the chorus of boos echoed around the stadium every time the right-back touched the ball.

To make matters worse, Alexander-Arnold made a mistake shortly after coming on, playing Mikel Merino onside as the Arsenal star headed in an equaliser after Martin Odegaard struck the post.

The scenes left a bad taste in plenty of people’s mouths with plenty blasting the ugly scenes.

Ex-English football turned pundit Rio Ferdinand tweeted: “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.”

Piers Morgan posted: “Liverpool fans booing Trent Alexander-Arnold are so pathetic. One of the club’s longest-serving and most loyal players, just helped win them the League, now seeking a new challenge abroad …. and they jeer him? Give your heads a wobble, you graceless clowns.”

Ex-footballer Adrian Clarke posted: “Was genuinely stunned at Liverpool fans’ treatment of Trent Alexander-Arnold today. Thought it was disgusting.

“A brilliant player for them, over many years. One of their own. What’s so wrong with a footballer fancying a new experience?”

LiArne Slot with Trent Alexander-Arnold. Photo: AP Photo/Jon Super

Trent Alexander-Arnold felt the emotion. Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP

But British actor and football pundit Rory Jennings hit back, tweeting: “If you can’t understand why some Liverpool fans are choosing to boo Trent Alexander-Arnold then I’m sad to say that football is not for you.

“Look at the people who are outraged at Trent Alexander-Arnold being booed. To a man, not one of them has ever stood in an away end. Rio, Piers, that bloke who does impressions, people like that are never going to fully comprehend the tribal aspect of football support.”

Alexander-Arnold looked glum as he completed a lap around the pitch applauding fans following the 2-2 draw, with many supporters still booing.

After the boos began, Gary Neville remarked: “Wow. That is not pleasant for him.”

Teammate Andy Robertson stuck up for his pal after the match, saying: “I’m disappointed to lose my best mate in the game, We’ve done it all together.

“He’s an amazing player and an amazing player. He’s made me a better player, and that’s from the bottom of my heart.

“He’s took me to levels I never knew existed and kept pushing me through the good years.

“His legacy at this club is there for everyone to see. The trophies he’s won, the moments he has had in history will always be there.

“It’s not nice to see your friend get booed and it wasn’t nice, but we can’t tell people how to act.”

Alexander-Arnold, 26, said his goodbyes to the fans this week in an emotional farewell video.

He appears to be set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer – a move that has infuriated many Kopites.

Can’t have been easy to hear. Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images

The England star has even been banned from two venues in Liverpool – Curry’s and Popworld.

Real Madrid have officially begun negotiations to sign Alexander-Arnold in time for the Club World Cup, and have offered Liverpool £1 million ($A2.069m) to let him leave early.

Liverpool could play hardball and ask for a further £500,000 ($A1.03m), despite having to pay the defender £180,000-a-week ($A372,000) until his deal expires.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has insisted that the anger towards his exit is “justified”.

He said: “Liverpool are in the business of winning more Premier League and Champions League titles.

“Anything which undermines that is a threat.

“You may not agree, or believe that competitive attitude to the loss of a star player is justified, but it is what makes Liverpool the successful club it is, and it is no different than what you would expect at Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Manchester United.

This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.

Originally published as ‘So pathetic’: Football world rocked as Liverpool legend Trent Alexander-Arnold booed by own fans