Trent Alexander-Arnold agreement reached as former Liverpool star 'upset' by boos

Two former Manchester United players are in agreement as they defended Trent Alexander-Arnold's decision to join Real Madrid over the summer.

Alexander-Arnold returned to Anfield for the first time since leaving the club in controversial fashion earlier this year, as Madrid lost to Liverpool in the Champions League. The right-back came on as a second-half substitute and boos rang out around Anfield every time he touched the ball. The reception sparked debate, with Gary Neville and Roy Keane weighing in.

Former United player Teddy Sheringham said that Anfield's reception of Alexander-Arnold was "a perfect example of supporters being fickle.” Sheringham told Oddspedia: “If Trent signed back for Liverpool next season and started performing well, they’d love him all over again.

“There’s clearly a few who give him grief for moving onto bigger and better things.

"You don’t leave Liverpool to join many other clubs because they’re obviously one of the biggest clubs in the world, but when you get the chance to go to Real Madrid, you’re almost obliged to try your trade there and see if you can do it in a different country at another fantastic club.

“Trent will be upset that the Liverpool fans reacted like that, but it’s just the way football fans are.”

Sheringham's comments follow remarks made by Wayne Rooney ahead of Tuesday night's game, when he defended the 27-year-old for taking the decision to test himself in a new league.

“How can you deny a young lad in the prime of his career the opportunity to go and play for Real Madrid?" Rooney said on Amazon Prime.

"Don’t get me wrong, Liverpool is such a huge football club around the world, but Real Madrid is different.

“The service he gave to Liverpool and the trophies he’s won here at Liverpool is incredible, but now he’s gone on to a new challenge, and Real Madrid, it’s very difficult to turn them down."

Rooney was backed up by former Arsenal forward Theor Walcott, who insisted there was nothing wrong with the manner in which Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool after he ran down his contract last season.

“Let’s not forget as well, he served his contract, so he did everything asked of him, he still worked to his full potential and his levels every single day in training, he showed up, he performed. I think people forget that,” Walcott said.

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