John Arne Riise stated that Trent Alexander-Arnold would have anticipated being booed by Liverpool fans following the announcement of his departure.

It’s time to draw a line under that – Slot on reaction to Alexander-Arnold boos

Former Liverpool star John Arne Riise has weighed in on the recent boos directed at Trent Alexander-Arnold by the Anfield crowd, suggesting that the young full-back would have anticipated such a reaction following his decision to leave the club.

Alexander-Arnold, who has been a part of Liverpool since he was just six years old, announced that he would be departing when his contract expires this summer. This news comes after months of speculation regarding his future, culminating in a free transfer that will see him leave the club in the coming weeks.

The announcement has not sat well with a section of the Liverpool fanbase, and their discontent was palpable during the recent league clash against Arsenal. After being brought on as a substitute, the 26-year-old was met with jeers from parts of the home support.

As Liverpool prepare to face Brighton in their penultimate league match on Monday, it remains to be seen whether the animosity towards Alexander-Arnold will persist.

“It’s divided the fans, rightly so, but I don’t feel it’s right to boo him,” Riise, who donned the Liverpool shirt from 2001 to 2008, told TNT Sports. “I think it’s the wrong thing to do because he’s done so much, and I wish him all the best. I think he’s going to be awesome wherever he goes.”

Riise continued, “I think he expected it to be like this because you’ve seen the last few months there’s been criticism around him, his contract, nobody talking, nobody saying anything about his situation. He’d been quiet, so I think he expected a certain reaction from the fans and he will deal with it, no problem.”

The Norwegian acknowledged the emotional connection Liverpool fans have with their club, stating, “It’s a hard one because with Liverpool Football Club, there are a lot of emotions with the fans. I’m not going to tell people how to react because it’s up to them and rightly so, but I do feel we cannot forget what Trent has done for the club, and what a player he’s become, his performances.”

Alexander-Arnold has earned his place in Liverpool folklore through his dynamic performances, contributing significantly to the team’s attacking play with impressive numbers in goals and assists. Since making his debut in 2016, the England international has helped secure two league titles, a UEFA Champions League trophy, an FA Cup, two League Cups, and a FIFA Club World Cup.

“For some players in their career, it gets to a point where you need something new to be able to push yourself to perform at the best level,” Riise explained. “I feel that at the moment Trent has come to the point where he needs something new to be able to put the work in and take the next step. And as an ex-player, I respect that and I get that.”

Riise also expressed understanding for the frustrations behind the fan reactions during the Arsenal match, given Alexander-Arnold’s deep ties to the club and the timing of his announcement. He admitted he wished the player had chosen to stay, as it would have further solidified his legacy.

“The only thing I will say is that I think things could have been done differently, from Trent or his team or the club, I don’t know,” he said. “What’s good is that he waited until the season was done, and we’d won the league before he announced it.”

While Riise respects Alexander-Arnold’s decision, he lamented the timing, saying, “It’s hard to leave a club who is winning the league, but at the same time, he must really need a new challenge because who leaves a club where they’re at, at the moment?”

He added, “Maybe he’s a little disappointed being booed by his own fans, but this is part of football. His career at Liverpool will never be forgotten, what he’s done, all the goals he scored, his assists, but he could have been a much bigger hero if he stayed at the club.”

Riise concluded, “Because he just announced it and it was the first game, I think emotion got to people. I’m sure people respect everything he’s done for the club. Yes, they can be sad, they can be disappointed he’s leaving because he’s a local hero and the club is in a good state, but as a player with a short career, he needs something new and that’s what people should respect.”