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Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ian Wright have become the latest pundits to weigh in on how Liverpool supporters responded to Trent Alexander-Arnold's Anfield return with Real Madrid in the Champions League. The 27 year old started on the substitutes' bench but featured for the closing nine minutes, with jeers greeting him each time he touched the ball - sparking huge debate.
Alexander-Arnold left the Premier League champions last summer and chose to sign for Real, a move that didn't sit well with the vast majority of Liverpool's fanbase. Given the circumstances, it was hardly surprising he faced an unwelcoming atmosphere when playing on Merseyside once more.
Nevertheless, Keane, Wright and Neville have all offered contrasting perspectives, though the trio appear united in believing the booing was unjustified.
"The reputation of Liverpool fans is that there loyal and a level up from most supporters," Keane remarked on the latest Stick To Football episode. "But I think for any player to go back, to boo him, people pay their money to go and that's fine, you're not going to argue with supporters but.."
Wright interrupted: "You know what Roy when you look at him, when he was a youngster, he'd have been dreaming of winning all those things for Liverpool. He'd think 'one day I'll leave and I can come back and it will be great', but the fact is when he was getting ready to leave, that is what he was thinking about.
"So I was more concerned for him when Liverpool [supporters] were booing him when he was there. He would have expected that last night, especially with the way he left, and that was the saddest thing that he had to deal with that.
"But that's what happens especially when you choose somebody else, especially over Liverpool, they're going to hold that against you."
Keane responded: "I know Jamie made a point over the last few days, comparing it to Van Dijk and Salah, but they're older players that have had experience abroad, Trent is mid-20s, his contract is up and he has the chance to try something completely different."
Neville then remarked rather bluntly: "Also Roy, it is Real Madrid."
Keane countered: "Of course, but Liverpool fans will obviously think 'we are the biggest club in the world' like all supporters. I'm not saying you give him the thumbs up for leaving you, but why would you go to a match and boo a lad who has played 260/270 games, stats are fantastic.
"You don't have to wish him luck in Madrid but to go to the effort of thinking, 'I'm going to boo this kid' as a local lad and Liverpool fans for some reason think we've got class, no Liverpool fans have to have a good look at themselves.
"The beauty with Trent over the last year or two is that he has said very little, he's not been one to say, 'oh I'd love to stay here', he has actually kept his mouth shut and sometimes that's not a bad thing to do. How many times do you see players say, 'oh I love this club' and then they leave. He kept it cool.
"It's just an experience for the kid, again to compare him to Van Dijk and Salah, they have played in Europe and moved clubs. But for a young player to go and try something new, to boo the kid [scoffs], bloody hell, you don't have to cheer him on but don't boo him."
Whilst the prevailing view suggested such a hostile reception was unwarranted, Liverpool fans will have relished Paul Scholes' succinct observation on the matter.
"He probably left a better team to go to a worse team," the former Manchester United midfielder remarked.
That assessment was vindicated by Liverpool's triumph over Los Blancos, with Alexis Mac Allister netting the decisive goal whilst Thibaut Courtois was called upon to produce several outstanding stops.
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