Jamie Carragher has criticised the booing of Trent Alexander-Arnold during Liverpool’s Premier League match against Arsenal as a “step too far”.
The England right-back made his first appearance for the Reds on Sunday since confirming in an emotional interview that he would be leaving his boyhood club on a free transfer when his current deal expires in the summer, replacing Conor Bradley in the 67th minute of a 2-2 draw in which the champions lost a 2-0 half-time lead.
Alexander-Arnold’s introduction off the bench at Anfield was met with loud boos from a number of home fans unhappy with the way his long-running contract saga has played out, with the 26-year-old now widely expected to join Real Madrid - a club whom Liverpool have faced a number of times in high-profile Champions League fixtures in recent years.
Alexander-Arnold had also faced a smattering of boos from his own supporters after making his return from injury off the bench - and scoring a winning goal - away at Leicester last month.
Slot had already confirmed at his pre-match press conference that he would start with deputy Bradley ahead of Alexander-Arnold against Arsenal as he looks to the future at right-back, with Liverpool fans - whom Slot had said he would not tell how to react to Alexander-Arnold - chanting the popular academy graduate’s name throughout Sunday’s match, including after he had been replaced by Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool legend Carragher said he understood the angry reaction to Alexander-Arnold’s decision to walk away on a free transfer, though did not agree with the boos.
“Listen, that’s the story of the game,” he said on Sky Sports. “That’s what everyone is going to be talking about, I’m sure we will be after the game. It will be on the back page of every newspaper tomorrow.”
Asked if he was surprised at the boos for Alexander-Arnold, Carragher added: “I was surprised by how many. When you’re in a crowd of 60,000, there’s no doubt there’s a lot of unhappy people in Liverpool about the situation. I’ve said that’s understandable.
“But for me, I said before the show, I said away at Leicester when he came on and there were a few boos from the away section then, that I don’t believe that any player putting that red shirt on and going out to play for the club, trying to win them three points or win them trophies, should be booed.
“I understand there’s a lot of ill feeling and I can get that, and some people outside of Liverpool can’t seem to understand that. I do. But I think booing one of your own players while they are playing is not for me.”
Carragher also said that Slot now has a decision to make on if he continues to play Alexander-Arnold, who did still stand up and applaud the fans after those boos, in the last two games of the season against Brighton and Crystal Palace, but insisted that the player did not deserve any sort of special send-off from Liverpool having chosen himself to move on.
“If Trent does continue to play, and that’s something the manager has got to think about because he doesn’t need this circus or this talk about Trent,” he said. “He’s moving on, he’s left the football club.
“Yes, of course [he deserves to lift the Premier League trophy], but he doesn’t need to come on the pitch. Everyone will be coming on the pitch at the end of the game, he doesn’t need to be brought on.
“I’ve said before it’s not about a send-off or anything like that, he is choosing to leave. I don’t agree with that today, but I don’t think there should be a thing where he’s given this big thing at the end of the season, or he’s given a microphone to make a big speech in front of the crowd.
“He’s choosing to leave the football club and that’s why the frustration is there. That for me was a step too far. Sing other players’ names, don’t boo a player who is wearing the Liverpool shirt.”
I can’t believe @LFC fans booing one of their own 🤯
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) May 11, 2025
I understand that some of you guys are not happy with his decision etc BUT to boo @TrentAA after he has won the lot with you is baffling! Didn’t cost you a penny
The boos for Alexander-Arnold were also criticised by former Manchester United and England captain Rio Ferdinand.
He wrote on social media platform X: “I can’t believe @LFC fans booing one of their own. I understand that some of you guys are not happy with his decision etc BUT to boo @TrentAA after he has won the lot with you is baffling! Didn’t cost you a penny.”
