While the jeering of Trent Alexander-Arnold against Arsenal may not have come as a surprise to many, the sheer volume at Anfield would have surely staggered even the most expectant individuals.
The treatment of West Derby-born Alexander-Arnold last weekend was something hitherto undreamt of, and you would have to go back nearly 20 years to find someone who suffered a similar fate.
The majority of the Reds’ fanbase still hasn’t forgiven Michael Owen, and only time will tell, with the right back set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer.
A justified outpour of emotion?
Fair or unfair, debate has been rife over why Alexander-Arnold received such a brutal reception at Anfield – the reasons are multi-faceted.
Liverpool fans have dealt with plenty of rejection in the decades gone by, but experiencing it from someone who is among the best in his position, approaching his prime, and for a zero-sum, is simply unacceptable.
The reality is, having rejected a lucrative contract offer from Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold’s camp have been negotiating with Real Madrid, a club who share a storied rivalry with the Reds in recent years, to facilitate a free transfer.
The animosity lies with the fact that his boyhood club stand to make nothing, and while hindsight (winning every possible club accolade) is a wonderful thing, it isn’t enough to undercut the raw emotion pulsating from Anfield.
Delaying the inevitable
Another factor that undoubtedly featured at the forefront of Anfield’s mood was the timing at which Alexander-Arnold chose to announce his departure.
Just eight days after Liverpool wrapped up a record-equalling 20th league title, and a first Premier League title in front of fans, the vice-captain’s decision to leave it so late was ill-mannered to say the least.
Jurgen Klopp’s shock departure was announced in January, allowing time for Liverpool to refocus on their trophy ambitions and to plan and (more importantly) execute the perfect farewell.
It is clear that Alexander-Arnold has played the majority of the campaign, knowing he will not be in a Liverpool shirt next season, and an earlier announcement would not have threatened to derail the Reds’ title celebrations.
Captaincy, cryptic celebrations and clarity (or lack thereof)
“It was always Liverpool”, a statement that echoed true as captain Virgil van Dijk committed his future to the club.
Even Mohamed Salah flipped the script on his ‘media-shy’ facade to control the narrative on his willingness to sign a new contract.
On the other hand, Liverpool fans who have unflinchingly defended their right back for the better part of eight years were treated to nothing but radio silence from Alexander-Arnold.
Last September, he proclaimed his desire to captain his boyhood club, a month later he harbored Ballon d’Or ambitions, and in December, his gestured celebrations implied that Liverpool fans should ignore the outside noise.
Alexander-Arnold’s lack of transparency has meant that his drive to focus on Liverpool’s title ambitions over his future will be blurred with accusations of cowardice and betrayal, but it is difficult to refute fans’ clamour for some much-needed clarity.
Should he have played against Arsenal?
Nobody, including Arne Slot, could have foreseen the reception Alexander-Arnold received as he replaced Conor Bradley in the 67th minute against the Gunners.
Slot, like most managers, would prioritise the game state, with Liverpool needing a goal to keep a resilient Arsenal at bay and with the score at 2-1, Alexander-Arnold seemed like a wise choice.
In a cruel twist of irony, Arsenal equalised just minutes later, and it was the substitute who played goal scorer Mikel Merino onside in the buildup.
Should he play anymore?
Liverpool must start planning for life without him, and they can do so with the promising young right back Conor Bradley.
Bradley has made 27 appearances this season and is currently being eased back from a hamstring injury that kept him out of action for over a month.
This evidently gave Slot even more of an incentive to prioritise Bradley’s game management, stating that he needs more games under his belt in preparation for next season.
Bradley must start Liverpool’s remaining games, regardless of whether the Anfield faithful soften towards Alexander-Arnold’s plight.
Involving the 26-year-old threatens to scupper Liverpool’s celebrations, but ostracising him denies him an opportunity to say farewell to the club that made him and also creates a larger narrative.
Arne Slot has a huge decision to make, but he will be wise to remember that no player is ever bigger than the club.
The Scouser’s begrudgingly Irish exit
In the end, football fans are fickle and perhaps in years to come, the Reds will look back on how they treated one of their own with regret.
Maybe the chants serenading Conor Bradley and all-time great Steven Gerrard were subtle enough after all to remind Alexander-Arnold what he will leave behind.
For Liverpool’s No. 66, he will undoubtedly look back on his 15 years at the club with immense pride, having finally ended the 30-year drought for a league title, the pinnacle of a trophy-laden career with the Reds.
He will, however, wish it had ended differently – a son of the city and a legend of the club would have never foreseen his farewell turn afoul in a matter of days.
Liverpool fans can take comfort knowing that their club has an innate habit of producing great players to replace the departed and that will not change following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit.