An emotional moment unfolded at Anfield during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal as Trent Alexander-Arnold, a longtime servant of the club, was greeted with boos from sections of his home crowd. The full-back, who came off the bench in the second half, faced a mixed reception—jeers from some, cheers from others—as he stepped onto the pitch. Despite the tension, he nearly ignited the stadium when he came close to scoring from a free kick.
Post-match, a touching moment was captured as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was seen speaking directly to Alexander-Arnold. Many speculated that Arteta was offering words of comfort, but the Spaniard later clarified the conversation had a different tone entirely. Speaking to Viaplay, Arteta explained, “I congratulate all of the players for that because they deserve it. They have been the best team and I am sure they have put a lot of work and joy into that title and they deserve to be congratulated.”
The right-back, who has been part of Liverpool for 20 years and won eight major trophies—including two Premier League titles and the Champions League—will soon leave the club. He is set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, a move that hasn’t gone down well with every Liverpool fan. The lack of a transfer fee and his choice to join a European rival has added fuel to the frustration.
New Liverpool head coach Arne Slot addressed the situation in his post-match press conference, acknowledging the difficulty of Alexander-Arnold’s departure. Slot noted, “It is definitely difficult for him… we have to make it as difficult as possible [to leave].” He added that the crowd reaction wasn’t wholly negative and said, “I don’t know… maybe he is positively surprised how the reactions were today.”
Slot admitted the volume of boos may have drowned out applause, but insisted fan reactions were mixed and that Alexander-Arnold still had plenty of support—especially when he lined up to take a free kick late in the game.
As Alexander-Arnold prepares to say farewell to his boyhood club, the response from Anfield is a complex blend of gratitude, disappointment, and unresolved emotion.
