Peter Schmeichel finds it annoying and disgusting that Liverpool fans would boo Trent Alexander-Arnold as the Real Madrid star returns to his former club.
The England full-back left Anfield at the end of his contract over the summer, joining the Spanish giants on a free transfer.
That did not go down well at all with some Liverpool fans, fuming that a player who came through the club’s academy to star in the first team would run down his contract and depart for no transfer fee.
Schmeichel is not on board with that point of view, feeling that the 27-year-old’s contribution at Liverpool was immense and should be applauded.
Alexander-Arnold played 354 times for the Reds, winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
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He returns to Anfield for the first time as a Real Madrid player on Tuesday night, starting the game on the substitutes’ bench but was loudly booed when he went out to warm up before the match.
The former Manchester United goalkeeper can’t believe fans would boo someone who was such a successful figure at the club.
‘Do you know what? I find it a little bit annoying, disgusting in a way, that this is even an issue,’ Schmeichel told CBS.
‘This is somebody who has given so many years, nearly 20 years for Liverpool Football Club. He has won every trophy that they played for his 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.’
Schmeichel was stood alongside Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher when he made those comments and the former Reds defender strongly disagreed with his sentiment.
‘I don’t agree with what you’ve said there. I think the supporters decide what type of reception he gets,’ said Carragher.
‘I think the reason why the reception will be poor tonight, is because Trent throughout those 20 years, like you’ve said, has played the position “I’m a supporter on the pitch”.
‘Those supporters in this stadium wouldn’t leave Liverpool on a free to go and play for Real Madrid.
‘OK, it’s his career, he gets one career, he’s a young man, he’s been brilliantly successful at the club. But what he said since he got in the team, if that were to be true and Liverpool is the only team for him, he wants to be a captain and legend here, you don’t leave when you just won the league title and have an opportunity to go and win more trophies with your club.
‘Then you join a club that’s beaten you twice in a Champions League final. They’re the club you want to compete with to maybe win more Champions League finals.
‘I totally understand the reaction of the supporters.’
Alexander-Arnold Premier League stats
Apps: 259
Goals: 18
Assists: 64
Carragher felt the seeds of discontent were being sewn before Alexander-Arnold even left Liverpool as he made no comment on his future, while Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk were more vocal about their contract situations before signing new deals at the end of last season.
‘A lot of it is that they feel they have been hoodwinked by Trent throughout the process of him being at the club,’ continued Carragher. ‘And also in the last year, where he hasn’t done any media interviews and not got involved in anything where there was talk around him, Salah and Van Dijk.
‘Salah and Van Dijk were coming out in the press saying they wanted to stay. Trent was very silent on the issue and that’s where the frustration comes from with the supporters.’