Anfield icon slams Alexander-Arnold boo boys

Emile Heskey thinks that some Liverpool fans treatment of homegrown right-back overstepped the mark after it was announced he would join Real Madrid on a free transfer.

Former England striker Emile Heskey has criticised Liverpool’s supporters for their treatment of Trent Alexander-Arnold as it became clear that he would join Real Madrid.

How did Trent’s departure unfold?

Alexander-Arnold chose to run his contract down at Anfield amid a year of speculation that he would head to the Bernabeu at the end of his Liverpool contract.

Ultimately, Liverpool pocketed around £10 million after Real paid up to release the England international from the remaining weeks of his contract so that they could include him in their Club World Cup campaign in the United States.

Xabi Alonso took charge of the Spanish giants for the side after replacing Carlo Ancelotti following a disappointing season, but he was unable to take them all the way after they were defeated by Paris Saint-Germain at the semi-final stage.

When Alexander-Arnold gave a press conference in Spanish, Liverpool supporters were riled as they felt that he had long planned his move, which resulted in his boyhood club receiving a pittance compared to his true value as a player had he been under contract.

While Steve McManaman also made the same move to Real Madrid, the Anfield faithful were far more agitated by another player following the same path.

Some observers have previously suggested that given he had won everything with Liverpool, it was understandable that he would want to move on to consolidate his legacy, and the former Liverpool manager asked the club’s fans to tone down their hostile attitude to the player. In the short term, the request did appear to cool down the intensity of supporters’ behaviour.

What did Emile Heskey say about the England right-back?

There remains a great deal of rancour aimed towards Alexander-Arnold, and speaking to BestBettingSites.co.uk, Heskey thinks they have overreacted after some fans booed the player towards the end of the season, and the amount of criticism that has been dished out on social media.

He said: “Yeah, I think they were a touch harsh on him. I think being a local lad is very difficult because again you’re not just representing yourself, you’re not just representing your family, you’re representing the city too. 

“And I don’t think many will understand the situation that you’re in when you’re in those situations. As a kid, you have your dreams and aspirations, and he’s ticked them all off at his boyhood club, so what’s next?”

Despite suggesting Liverpool supporters had gone too far, he understood that from their point of view, their loyalties begin and end with their club, rather than the player’s own ambitions.

“For Liverpool fans, they only care about their club,” he explained. “Nothing else matters, and that’s understandable that they’re in their own bubble. For players, they need to wonder what they want from their legacy. There’s so much more for him to do in football, and fans sometimes look past that.

“I don’t blame them for booing, but they don’t see it in the same way.”

Liverpool have added Jeremie Frimpong to their squad as a potential replacement for Alexander-Arnold, and also have Conor Bradley as an option already in the squad.

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