Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has slammed Liverpool fans for their treatment of former player Trent Alexander-Arnold after he was booed on his return to Anfield.
Alexander-Arnold moved to Spanish Giants Real Madrid on a free transfer in the off-season after winding down his contract in a move that angered fans and former players.
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They made their feelings known on Wednesday morning as the 27-year-old warmed up for Madrid’s Champions League clash with the Premier League Champions.
Earlier before kick off a mural of Alexander-Arnold close to Anfield was also vandalised.
“I find it a little bit annoying, disgusting that this is even an issue. This is somebody that has given 20 years to Liverpool Football club. He’s won every trophy that they have played for in his time.
“He should be welcomed back as a hero.”
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragherm however, said the reaction was understandable.
“The supporters decided what type of reception he gets,” Carragher said in response to Schmeichel on CBS’ coverage.
“Trent throughout those 20 years has played the position of ‘I’m a supporter on the pitch’.
“So them supporters in the stadium wouldn’t leave to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
“You don’t leave when you’ve just won the league title, and you’ve got the opportunity to win more trophies. Then you join a club that has beaten you twice in a Champions League final.
“I totally understand the reaction. I feel we have been hoodwinked a little bit by Trent.”
Fellow England international Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, has become the youngest player to reach 50 Champions League appearances.
The Real Madrid midfielder has broken Iker Casillas’ previous record, which had stood for 22 years.
Casillas made his 50th appearance aged 22 years and 155 days back in 2003, just 115 days after Bellingham was born.
However, the England international reached the tally aged 22 years and 128 days as he started for the Spanish giants againstLiverpool at Anfield.
The Reds welcome Xabi Alonso’s side for their fourth league phase fixture on Tuesday night.
It comes just over five years on from his first appearances in the competition. Bellingham made his Champions League debut aged 17 in 2020 for Borussia Dortmund.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid makes his way to the substitute bench prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid makes his way to the substitute bench prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid.Source: Getty Images
The Birmingham academy graduate started their group stage defeat away to Lazio just three months after joining the club fromBlues.
He would go on to feature 23 times in the Champions League for Dortmund, with the rest of his appearances coming since his 2023 move to the Spanish capital.
To date, Bellingham has scored 14 goals and provided 13 assists in Europe’s premier club tournament.
Those include an assist against his old side in the 2024 final as Real Madrid claimed a 2-0 win at Wembley Stadium.
Bellingham has now reached half a century of Champions League appearances in record time.
Youngest players to make 50 Champions League appearances 1. Jude Bellingham – 22 years and 128 days 2. Iker Casillas – 22 years and 155 days 3. Cesc Fabregas – 22 years and 331 days 4. Kylian Mbappe – 22 years and 339 days 5. Lionel Messi – 23 years and 166 days Only Casillas, Cesc Fabregasand Kylian Mbappe had previously done so before turning 23.Meanwhile, Lionel Messi was aged 23 years and 166 days when he achieved the feat
ARSENAL TEEN MAKES HISTORY AS GUNNER SEND STATEMENT
Mikel Merino’s two second-half goals helped Arsenal to a 3-0 win at Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday, the Gunners’ fourth in as many games in the competition.
For the Premier League leaders, the result also constituted a 10th straight win in all competitions and an eighth consecutive clean sheet.
They have now scored 11 goals and conceded none in the Champions League so far as they moved clear at the top of the standings.
The match also saw a moment of history as Arsenal’s Max Dowman became the youngest-ever player in a Champions League game aged just 15 years and 309 days when he came onto the pitch in the 73rd minute.
Stand-in captain Bukayo Saka opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 32 minutes after Slavia captain Lukas Provod hadhandled the ball in the box clearing a corner.
Merino made it 2-0 from a quick breakaway 30 seconds into the second half as he volleyed home at the near post after LeandroTrossard’s superb pass found him unmarked in the Slavia box.
He then beat Slavia goalkeeper Jakub Markovic with a header from Declan Rice’s cross on 68 minutes.
Merino was one of four changes made by Gunners coach Mikel Arteta against Arsenal’s 2-0 league win at Burnley on Saturday.
The game got off to an eventful start as Gabriel Magalhaes blasted wide from outside the box and Provod followed suit at theother end inside the opening two minutes.
Any effort by Slavia to get close to the Arsenal goal stumbled on the Gunners’ rock-solid defence, and the reigning Czech champions failed to produce a single shot on target during the match.
Arsenal were soon on the front foot, dominating possession and creating chances despite missing injured strikers Viktor Gyokeres,Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli.
Saka alone had three shots on goal within eight minutes midway through the first half but was denied by Slavia’s Markoviceach time.
The goalkeeper also then stopped the Arsenal captain’s low shot from inside the box on 60 minutes.
The loss leaves Slavia, the Czech top-flight leaders, with two points from four games in the Champions League.
CONTENDER IN FRUSTRATING STALEMATE
Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt played out an uneventful goalless draw on Tuesday whichdid little for their stuttering Champions League campaigns.
There was little goalmouth action in Naples where both teams ended their evenings on a paltry four points from four matchesin this season’s competition.
With a host of matches still to come on Tuesday and Wednesday, Napoli and Eintracht -- sat 19th and 18th respectively -- arelikely to be in the elimination places at the halfway point of the league phase.
Scott McTominay missed the best chance of a frustrating night for the Serie A champions when he blasted over from close range following a a powerful burst down the right flank from his midfield partner Andre-FrankAnguissa.
But while Napoli can at least console themselves with a strong domestic performance thanks to their league lead in Italy, Eintracht have no such comfort.
Eintracht have won once in their last eight matches in all competitions and were also knocked out of the German Cup by BorussiaDortmund last week.
However, Dino Toppmoeller’s team will probably be happier with a point from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, especiallygiven the hammering dished out to them by Liverpool last time out.
The Germans also earned a draw without the backing of their vociferous support. Eintracht fans were banned from Tuesday’smatch, just as they were two years ago when a small but committed group of hooligans defied authorities and caused chaos inNaples.
No such incidents took place this time out, with the only crowd action of note being the tepid whistles which greeted theend of a forgettable encounter.