Neville and Scholes side with Liverpool fans over Trent Alexander-Arnold fury
Trent Alexander-Arnold has sent shockwaves through Liverpool with his decision to leave the Reds, and many are criticising him.
Liverpool are likely to lose Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid on a free transfer, with the right-back leaving his boyhood club after 20 years.
Many Liverpool fans are furious, with his upbringing as a Scouser and the lack of transfer fee for him causing significant anger in the fanbase.
Ian Wright leapt to Alexander-Arnold’s defence, but former Manchester United stars Gary Neville and Paul Scholes have admitted they understand the anger.
Scholes and Neville accept anger toward Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool fans have criticised Alexander-Arnold for how he is leaving his boyhood club despite winning the Premier League, and the validity of this is questionable.
However, Scholes pointed out that if it were at his club, with a local player from Manchester leaving, he would understand why fans feel so strongly about the situation.
“I think if it was a lad from Manchester, we might feel a bit different,” Scholes stated on the Stick to Football Podcast (8 May).
| Stat | Alexander-Arnold |
| Appearances | 352 |
| Goals | 23 |
| Assists | 92 |
Neville then pointed out that for both United and Liverpool fans, the fury at his decision to go to Real Madrid is justified.
“It’s hard to accept when you’re at a United or a Liverpool and you think you are the biggest club, that you basically think that somewhere is bigger than you, and someone who was brought up in that city went on to leave, I understand why Liverpool fans may be upset,” he added.
Liverpool fans have mixed reaction to Alexander-Arnold news
A lot of local Liverpool fans are furious at Alexander-Arnold’s decision, given that they consider themselves to be the best club in the world for a Scouser such as the defender to be at.
His departure hurts even more given that he was born locally and raised at the club and in the city, compared to other players who have departed over the years.
However, many are keen to point out that Alexander-Arnold has accomplished all he could and gave the club 20 years of service before leaving for a new challenge abroad.
The defender may not play in Liverpool’s final few games, but if he does, it will be interesting to see what reception he gets from the Anfield faithful since his announcement.