Trent Alexander-Arnold’s substitution and every touch was booed heavily by a portion of unhappy Liverpool fans inside Anfield on Sunday as they drew 2-2 with Arsenal
Virgil van Dijk insists Trent Alexander-Arnold will still be a huge part of Liverpool ’s title celebrations. Liverpool captain van Dijk suggested that Alexander-Arnold was braced for the reception he received in his first game at Anfield since announcing he was leaving the club this summer.
Alexander-Arnold ran the gauntlet of overwhelming boos every time he touched the ball in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal as the Liverpool fans turned on one of their own. Liverpool fans are unhappy that the homegrown Scouse graduate of the club’s academy is leaving on a free transfer to join Real Madrid and the England defender is feeling the backlash.
But van Dijk says while they are “gutted” that Alexander-Arnold is going, the players are determined to make him a part of the trophy lift and parade and insisted it will not overshadow the celebrations. Van Dijk said: “We want to win two more games and after the final whistle, including him, lift the trophy up and celebrate like we have never done before.”
When asked whether it could overshadow the celebrations, Van Dijk said: “I don’t think so. It shouldn’t. There’s a lot more players that also deserve an amazing day. I don’t think it will. It is what it is. I think the manager said it right that you can’t decide how anyone feels about the decision he made for him and his family. The reaction happened. He has to deal with it.
“We as a team have to deal with that as well, by the way. But I think maybe he expected this. We have two more games and then we part ways and he will go somewhere else. It’s not easy, not at all. We’re here for him anyway but I think the manager said it pretty well. You can’t decide how anyone’s feelings are based on this decision. He made his decision and he had peace with it.
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“We all have to deal with it. We are gutted that he’s not here with us next year because he’s a fantastic player in my opinion, with outstanding, exceptional qualities that we have all been seeing over the last seven years I’ve been here. We’re definitely going to miss him when he’s gone but we’ve still got two games to go.
“It’s football. We all know how it works, how the players have to make decisions at times and do what they think is best for themselves and their families that they have. He made the decision for himself and he’s at peace with it. We have to deal with it.
“The club has to deal with it and I think in the past the club dealt with it in very good ways as well. Like I said, we have two more games that he will have to play a part in as well. I’m sure will because he’s a fantastic player and then we’ll say goodbye to him.”
Van Dijk insisted that his decision – and that of Mo Salah – to stay was different to Alexander-Arnold because they are at very different stages of their careers. But Van Dijk also admitted that he was so busy resolving his own future that he could not really help in persuading Alexander-Arnold to stay.
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He added: “Everyone has different opinions or different phases of their career so you can’t compare our situation – me and Mo in this case – with Trent. I was very happy to eventually come to an agreement with the club.
“I was sorting my own stuff out, I had to secure my future as well and I was quite busy doing that. As club captain I was trying to secure my future. There were loads of other options but Liverpool is the place for me.
“Everyone shares different opinions and he feels like he has done it all – and he did it – and he wants to try something different. You are speaking about one of the biggest clubs of all in Real Madrid, who he might go to as I read in the media. The decision is made.
“We are all gutted, players as well, as he is a fantastic player and made so many decisive moments over the years and has been a great player in the squad. When the final whistle is there we will miss him after that but we still have two more games, the trophy lift and a parade so there are plenty of moments we can share together and then we will see what happens.”
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