A mural honoring Trent Alexander-Arnold — once a proud symbol of Liverpool’s local spirit — was found vandalized this morning, just hours before his emotional return to Anfield as a Real Madrid player.
The artwork, which bore the words _“I’m just an ordinary lad from Liverpool who’s achieved his dream,”_ had stood as a tribute to the right-back’s journey from the streets of West Derby to Liverpool’s first team. Painted in 2019, it celebrated one of the city’s favorite sons — a homegrown hero who lived every supporter’s dream.
But that pride turned to dismay on Tuesday morning when residents discovered the mural defaced. The portrait of Alexander-Arnold was covered in white paint, and scrawled over it were the words: _“Goodbye, the rat.”_
According to reports, several young men arrived around 11 p.m. last night carrying paint cans and defaced the mural within minutes.
The tribute was originally commissioned by _The Anfield Wrap_ fan group after Liverpool’s Champions League triumph over Tottenham in 2019 — a season that established Alexander-Arnold as one of Europe’s brightest talents.
However, the mood around the player has drastically changed since his summer move to Real Madrid. After two decades at the club — from academy hopeful to Champions League winner — Alexander-Arnold chose not to renew his contract, opting instead for a free transfer to Spain.