Trent Alexander-Arnold exits Liverpool amid emotional Anfield farewell
Liverpool fans give Alexander-Arnold a mixed reception in his final match before joining Real Madrid.
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| Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool celebrates with the Premier League trophy after the match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on May 25, 2025. Photo by Paul Ellis/AFP |
By Randy Ahmad and Widya Putri
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool farewell on the final day of the 2024–25 Premier League season was anything but ordinary. As Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy in front of a jubilant Anfield crowd, the 26-year-old right-back — who announced earlier this month his decision to leave for Real Madrid — received a reception that was as complex as his recent journey with the club.
Three weeks earlier, Alexander-Arnold had walked alone. His announcement of a departure on a free transfer stunned fans, who saw in him not just a generational talent but a symbol of local pride. The backlash was swift. Anfield, usually a sanctuary, turned into an arena of disapproval when boos echoed around the stadium during his substitute appearance against Arsenal.
But on Sunday, as Liverpool secured the title with a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, the tone had shifted — not entirely, but noticeably.
From boos to cheers: A rollercoaster of emotions
After the final whistle, Alexander-Arnold addressed Sky Sports, visibly moved by the response from supporters. “I didn’t know what to expect stepping out at Anfield today after what happened a few weeks ago,” he said. “To get the reception I got means more than anything.”
Though the Liverpool defender’s name was cheered when he ascended the podium to collect his winner’s medal, the Kop simultaneously sang Steven Gerrard’s name whenever he stepped up to take a corner — a pointed reminder of what some fans felt he could have become had he stayed loyal to the club like Gerrard once did.
Gerrard, despite flirtations with Chelsea, remained at Liverpool until he was no longer wanted. Alexander-Arnold’s decision to walk away while still in his prime felt to many like a betrayal of that legacy.
Klopp’s last influence: Turning critics into forgivers
The shift in sentiment could be traced, in part, to former manager Jurgen Klopp. At a charity event on the Friday before the match, Klopp — returning to Merseyside for the first time since stepping down — publicly defended his former player. Holding up Alexander-Arnold’s shirt, he told supporters they were “wrong” to boo him.
Whether it was Klopp’s influence or simply the occasion, the mood on Sunday was markedly more forgiving. Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot struck a conciliatory tone in the matchday programme, writing, “This is why I believe differences are for another day.” Slot, who was critical of Alexander-Arnold’s early season training efforts, later called his performance against Palace “brilliant.”
The allure and cost of Real Madrid
There is no denying the appeal of Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have dominated Europe with five Champions League titles in the past decade, defeating Liverpool twice in finals. For Alexander-Arnold, the move offers global stardom, a shot at the Ballon d’Or, and a place in football’s pantheon of greats.
But the price is steep. He leaves behind a club that has returned to the top of English football and is actively building for future success, with Bayer Leverkusen stars Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz on the radar. Liverpool in 2025 looks like a team poised to sustain success — a far cry from the inconsistent side of Gerrard’s prime years.
An emotional goodbye two decades in the making
Alexander-Arnold joined Liverpool’s academy at the age of six. In the two decades since, he evolved from a boy in West Derby to a cornerstone of Liverpool’s modern era. His cross to Divock Origi in the 2019 Champions League semi-final against Barcelona remains one of the most iconic assists in the club’s history.
On Sunday, his emotions ran the gamut — from near tears during “You’ll Never Walk Alone” to beaming smiles during the celebrations. At times, he looked detached, as if already halfway to Madrid; at others, he seemed immersed in the gravity of what he was leaving behind.
“It’s not sunk in yet,” he admitted. “From six years old to now, 20 years is a very long time, but I’ve loved every minute — the ups and the downs. Coming through the academy, making it into the first team… it has been an honour and a privilege.”
What fans forgive — and what they don’t
Could he have handled his departure more delicately? Probably. Uploading a scripted video to announce his exit, followed by a themed farewell party — “Summer of 66,” a nod to his shirt number — struck some supporters as tone-deaf. The backlash wasn’t just online. It echoed in the stadium, where discontent wasn’t easily masked.
Insiders suggest Alexander-Arnold was stung by the criticism. He had requested to play one final time at Anfield, and when he came on for Conor Bradley at halftime, he produced the kind of display that has defined his career: erratic at times defensively, but breathtaking in possession. One pass to Darwin Nunez left Klopp — watching from the directors' box — in awe, reportedly mouthing, “Wow! What a ball!”
His contribution to this golden Liverpool era is undeniable. But that legacy is now tangled in a sense of “what if?” What if he had stayed? What if he had chosen loyalty over ambition?
A legacy secured, but divided
For all the frustrations, many fans still regard Alexander-Arnold with admiration. Eight and a half years in the first team, a Champions League title, a Premier League crown, and an FA Cup — few players have done more in a red shirt in such a short span.
Still, the fact he leaves on a free transfer — following the Real Madrid playbook of acquiring top talent without a fee — has left a bitter aftertaste. The scenario brings back memories of other stars who departed in search of greater glory, often finding that the things they left behind couldn’t be replaced by trophies alone.
If Real Madrid and Liverpool meet in next season’s Champions League, Anfield’s reaction to their former prodigy will be telling. Will he be booed again? Or will time heal the wounds opened this May?
What comes next — for club and player
Slot will now begin building a post-Alexander-Arnold era. The club’s scouting department is already active, and potential replacements are being vetted. Liverpool’s system may evolve, but the void left by a player of such technical brilliance and emotional resonance will not be easy to fill.
Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold embarks on a new chapter. His goal is clear: to become the best right-back in football history and potentially challenge for individual honors like the Ballon d’Or. His decision reflects a generational shift in English footballers — one less bound by nostalgia, more driven by global ambition.
As for Sunday’s farewell, it was perhaps best summed up by Slot himself: “It showed how hard it can be to leave a club like this.” And in Alexander-Arnold’s case, that difficulty was etched across every moment of his final day in red.
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