3 hours ago
3
The mural of former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been vandalised just hours before his anticipated return to Anfield with Real Madrid.
The England international departed the Premier League side amid controversy, moving to La Liga after his contract expired. The Champions League winner is expected to receive a frosty welcome upon his reunion with Arne Slot and his ex-teammates.
Images have surfaced on social media showing graffiti on the mural mere hours before the Merseyside clash. White paint has been thrown over the artwork, accompanied by various "rat" inscriptions and a message in Spanish that loosely translates to: "Adios, the rat."
This marks the second instance of vandalism targeting the tribute within less than six months, following the word "rat" being scrawled shortly before his exit.
Workers were filmed cleaning the mural on Tuesday ahead of the big game.
The mural was created in 2019, organized by Liverpool fan podcast The Anfield Wrap, as a means to celebrate the Champions League-winning season and motivate the younger generation.
Located on Sybid Road, under the shadow of the 61,000-capacity stadium, the painting features Alexander-Arnold and his No. 66 shirt, along with the quote from the night following their victory at the Wanda Metropolitano: "I'm just a normal lad from Liverpool, whose dream has just come true."
When asked about the kind of reception he expects the full-back to receive at Anfield on Tuesday, Liverpool's head coach Slot admitted his uncertainty regarding the crowd's reaction but assured a "warm welcome" from him.
"I can only tell you what kind of reception he gets from me; I have great memories of the player and the human being," he said.
"He was my vice captain last season, and I have memories of working with him, which were only positive, and have memories from watching him on television, which were only positive as well – I can remember multiple great moments of his in a Liverpool shirt.
"He will get a warm welcome from me.
"Let's first wait and see if he is on the pitch tomorrow.
"How the fans [respond] I have no clue how that's going to be, but he gets a warm welcome from me, that's for sure."
English (US) ·