Arne Slot spoke honestly about Trent Alexander-Arnold's return to Anfield
Liverpool manager said he has not even thought about the Anfield reception defender will receive. The international returned to Merseyside for the first time since his controversial exit.
He , although his former side did receive a fee for him due to . Many months later, to make the squad of Xabi Alonso's side, after many weeks of injuries.
The right-back's return to the city he was born in has been the sub-plot for their encounter. Despite plenty of attention being paid to Alexander-Arnold's return, Slot said he has not even thought about it.
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Before the game, the Dutchman said: "I have no clue. I don't even know if there is a reception if he does the warm-up before the game.
"That's not the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about this game. First, it's the ones that play for me and then the ones that play for Real Madrid that I'm thinking about.
"Of course, if Trent comes in he can impact the game with the ball, I know, more than anyone else. I definitely know because he did this last season a few times. [He is] An incredible player and a great human being as well."
Before the game, Alexander-Arnold admitted he has no control over how the fans will greet him when he returned to Anfield. He said: "Mixed emotions, whatever way I'm received is the decision of the fans."
Alexander-Arnold was booed by many fans at Anfield (
Image:
Getty Images)
"No matter what, my feelings won't change towards . I've got memories there that will last me a lifetime and, no matter how I'm received, that won't change."
Before the match, Alexander-Arnold laid floral tributes at the Anfield memorial for the late Diogo Jota and the Portuguese ace's brother Andre Silva. He was joined by former Liverpool midfielder now Real manager Xabi Alonso.
Before the match, the Spaniard, who also left the Reds to join Real all the way back in the summer of 2009, urged Alexander-Arnold to enjoy his return to the club. In his pre-match press conference, he said: “We haven’t spoken about that precisely [the reception that awaits Alexander-Arnold]
Alexander-Arnold paid tribute to Diogo Jota before the match (
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
"But we have spoken about the team and the club. He has to have his own feelings and enjoy it his own way.
"So I am not going to say how he needs to feel it. For sure his history is different from mine, he was born and bred in Liverpool.
"I remember him from a young age in the academy and then coming to the first team and winning the . So he needs to enjoy the moment because it is nice to be back.”
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