Arne Slot has admitted that it would have been “tough” for Trent Alexander-Arnold to lose on his first return to Anfield as an opposition player but insisted the right-back will always hold a special place in his heart.
There was no surprise that the atmosphere inside Anfield was charged long before kick-off.
The return of a homegrown star who chose to walk away from Liverpool for nothing was always going to stir emotions, and when Xabi Alonso introduced Alexander-Arnold from the bench, the reaction was deafening.
A chorus of boos echoed around the stadium as the 27-year-old made his way onto the pitch, with every touch jeered by the Kop that once sang his name. For many supporters, the bitterness of his exit leaving on a free transfer without extending his deal to help the club recoup a fee still cuts deep.
Alexander-Arnold’s decision to reject a contract extension and instead join Real Madrid last summer came as a hammer blow to a fanbase that had idolised him since his teenage years.
Had he left for a transfer fee or in the twilight of his career, there might have been more understanding.
But walking away for nothing, and showing little public remorse, ensured the wounds would linger.
Even so, it was clear from the Liverpool dugout that the affection between player and manager remains intact. Slot, who helped revive Alexander-Arnold’s form during his final season at Anfield, revealed he still has enormous respect for his former vice-captain.
“Yeah, he [Alexander-Arnold] lost, so that’s tough,” Slot told beIN Sports after Liverpool’s 1-0 win. “I said to him, I don’t actually know [maybe] keep going, I honestly don’t know exactly what I said to him, but he has been special to this club and he’s been special to me.
“And he’s been a special human being, so for me to give him a hug is something I will do every single time I meet him.”
Those comments reflect the class and composure Slot has brought to his role since succeeding Jürgen Klopp in the summer. While the supporters’ anger toward Alexander-Arnold shows no signs of fading, within the club there is still immense appreciation for his contribution to Liverpool’s modern era.
The local lad from West Derby lifted every major honour available under Klopp including the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup and redefined what it meant to be a full-back in the modern game. That legacy remains, even if the manner of his departure soured the ending.
Still, for Alexander-Arnold, the evening will have felt surreal sharing handshakes and hugs with his former teammates, yet playing the role of the villain in the eyes of those who once adored him.
