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Jamie Carragher had an on-air disagreement with Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return to Liverpool.
The Reds’ former vice-captain was back at Anfield for the first time since his summer move to Real Madrid for the latest round in the Champions League’s league phase. Although he had to make do with a place on the bench, the home support made sure to make their feelings about him clear.
Alexander-Arnold was booed as he made his way out to warm up with Real’s other substitutes, with fans clearly still disgruntled with the manner in which he left Liverpool.
The reaction mirrored the one that greeted him against Arsenal back in May after he announced his decision to depart, with his contract on the verge of expiring.
Carragher and Schmeichel discussed the expected reception as they appeared on CBS ahead of the game, with the former United goalkeeper voicing his displeasure at the thought of Alexander-Arnold being booed again.
“I find it a little bit annoying, disgusting in a way, that this is even an issue,” Schmeichel said.
“This is somebody who has given so many years, nearly 20 years, for Liverpool Football Club. He’s won every trophy that they have played for in his time.
“He should be welcomed back as a hero. Even to have the idea that he would have a bad reception, i think that’s bad. What do you think, Jamie?”
Carragher disagreed though, insisting that Liverpool’s fans were within their rights to react how they wanted.
“No, no, I don’t agree with what you’ve said there,” Carragher began. “Listen, I think the supporters decide what type of reception he gets.
“I think that the reason why the reception will be poor tonight, which I would expect, is because Trent throughout those 20 years has played the position of ‘I’m a supporter on the pitch.’ So them supporters who are all in this stadium wouldn’t leave on a free transfer to go play for Real Madrid.
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“Now, okay, it’s his career, he gets one career, he’s a young man, he’s been brilliantly successful at the club.
“But what he’s said since he’s got in the team, if that were to be true and that Liverpool is the only team for him, he wants to be the captain, he wants to be a legend here, you don’t leave when you’ve just won the league title and you’ve got the opportunity to go win more trophies with your club. And then you join a club that’s beaten you twice in a Champions League final, and they’re the club that you want to compete for to maybe win more Champions League finals.
“So, I totally understand the reaction of the supporters and a lot of it is because they feel like they’ve been hoodwinked a little bit by Trent throughout the process of him being at the club.
“And also when he hasn’t done any media interviews, he’s not got involved in anything. There was talk around obviously him, [Mohamed] Salah and [Virgil] Van Dijk. Salah and Van Dijk were coming out constantly in the press saying they wanted to stay. Trent obviously was very silent on the issue, and that’s where the frustration comes from the supporters.”
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