Trent Alexander-Arnold is preparing for his last game as a Liverpool player before leaving after 20 years at the club
Trent Alexander-Arnold has posted a message on social media ahead of his final game as a Liverpool player. Alexander-Arnold confirmed earlier this month he will leave the Reds when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The right-back is expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer with the European Super League advocates considering an attempt to persuade Liverpool to release the player early so to be available for next month’s controversially-expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Alexander-Arnold has been greeted with a mixed reception by Liverpool supporters during recent weeks even before his imminent departure was made official.
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There was division in the away end when the right-back emerged from the bench to score the winner at Leicester City last month, and a significant section of the Anfield crowd targeted Alexander-Arnold for abuse when he featured as a substitute in the 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal a fortnight ago.
He was an unused replacement in last Monday’s 3-2 defeat at Brighton with Arne Slot admitting he faces a difficult decision over whether Alexander-Arnold is given any further minutes from bench in the final game of the season at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
Ahead of that fixture, Alexander-Arnold has posted a picture of a special pair of football boots, one of which has 2005 labelled on the tongue – the year the England international joined the Liverpool Academy – while the other states 2025, referencing his exit.
There was also a caption that simply read: “20 years. Gave it everything.”
Speaking on Friday on his first return to the city since leaving last summer, former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp echoed the recent comments of Mohamed Salah in expressing his disappointment at the jeers and boos towards Alexander-Arnold by some of the Liverpool support.
Both Klopp and Salah have subsequently been heavily criticised on social media by a loud minority of Reds supporters who remain apoplectic at the manner of Alexander-Arnold’s departure.
Alexander-Arnold made his Liverpool debut in October 2016 and has totalled 353 appearances, scoring 23 goals and contributing 86 assists.
During his time as a first-team regular, the Reds have won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the Club World Cup, the FA Cup and the League Cup, while Alexander-Arnold was named PFA Young Player of the Year in 2020.
