ARNE SLOT won’t shy away from playing Trent Alexander-Arnold in Liverpool’s remaining games this season – despite boos from the Anfield faithful.
The departing Reds’ full-back was jeered by a portion of the home crowd during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
Alexander-Arnold replaced Conor Bradley in the 67th minute on Merseyside and received a mixed reception.
The England star is set to leave his boyhood club in the summer after 21 years to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Audible boos were heard every time Alexander-Arnold touched the ball for the remaining 20 minutes of the game.
Boss Slot believes fans can “have their opinion” but vowed to back his players “no matter what”.
He told Sky Sports: “In general and in life, the good thing about living in Europe is that everybody can have their opinion and that’s the same here in Liverpool.
“There were people that were not so happy with him.
“There were a lot of people who were happy with him, they clapped for him.
“A few of them booed. I think everybody is allowed to have their opinion.
“Towards the end, I think more and more people were positive.
“But for me, it’s simple. I owe it to the team and to the fans, to everyone, to play a team that can win a game of football.
“And Trent showed why I brought him in because he had two or three incredible balls.”
“We were very close to winning it, partly because of him, so for me, it’s not that difficult.
“For the fans, they have the reaction they want but I will always back my players.
“The one that I lead, the ones that wear a red shirt. I will always back them, no matter what.”
For me, I don’t believe any player putting on that red shirt who goes on to win trophies should be being booed.
Jamie Carragher
Club legend Jamie Carragher, working as a pundit for Sky Sports, admitted he was “shocked” by the booing.
And the former Reds centre-half claimed that “most players in that Liverpool dressing room probably want to play for Real Madrid.”
Speaking on the booing, he said: “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 [boos]. 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.
“That [booing him] was a step too far. That could’ve been his last performance, which might be the right thing as Liverpool don’t need a circus.”
Alexander-Arnold, 26, joined Liverpool’s academy at the age of 6 in 2004.
He made his first team debut in 2016 and has since gone on to play over 350 times for his hometown club, winning five major trophies.
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