Arne Slot has admitted that it would have been “tough” for Trent Alexander-Arnold to lose upon his return to Liverpool.
There was already plenty of hostility built up ahead of the tie, but the chorus of boos that emerged from Anfield when Alexander-Arnold was brought on by Xabi Alonso was deafening.
Everybody knew that the Englishman was going to get plenty of grief, but Jude Bellingham thinks that the Reds’ fans were just doing it to put Alexander-Arnold off rather than for his actions.
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When he was brought into the game, he hardly had a touch of the ball, and although most of Liverpool’s players welcomed him with open arms, it was clear that the fans were never going to do that.
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid CF jogs during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at AnfieldMD4
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Slot helped bring out the best in the 27-year-old last season, with the Dutchman now making an admission about the right-back.
Arne Slot admits that he will always embrace Trent Alexander-Arnold every time he meets him away from Liverpool
There’s no way that Alexander-Arnold would ever be allowed to return to Anfield as a Liverpool player ever again.
Rather than agreeing to an extension to his deal to at least give his boyhood club some money for his transfer, the Englishman chose to exit Merseyside for nothing, with him seeming to have no remorse for what he did.
This is one of the main reasons why fans felt betrayed by his exit, with most saying that if he did it in a few years or Liverpool at least got a decent fee for him, then they wouldn’t have even been that bothered.
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These are all ifs, buts, and maybes, of course, and although the Reds’ fanbase may never forgive him, it certainly feels like Slot and his men have.
“Yeah, he [Alexander-Arnold] lost, so that’s tough,” Slot said to beIN Sports.
“I said to him, I don’t actually know [maybe] keep going, I honestly don’t know exactly what I said to him, but he has been special to this club and he’s been special to me.
“And he’s been a special human being, so for me to give him a hug is something I will do every single time I meet him.”
Liverpool must perform as well as they did against Real Madrid in their upcoming game versus Manchester City
There’s seemingly no rest for the wicked, as, despite going through a rollercoaster of emotions on Tuesday, Liverpool are already gearing up to face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Although the rivalry between Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp was far more intense than the one that the Spaniard and Slot have, it’s clear that there’s still plenty of disdain between the fanbases.
Man City are one of the main reasons why Liverpool’s golden era didn’t win as many trophies as they deserved to.
And, while their performances may have been well below their usual standards last season, they’ve seemingly jumped straight back onto the horse and are back challenging for the Premier League title.
One point separates City and Liverpool at the moment, with Sunday’s clash already feeling like a six-pointer.
However, as long as Liverpool’s first-team squad can build upon their recent performances and perhaps sneak a goal or two past City’s defence, they should be well on their way to challenging Arsenal at the top of the table again.
If they lose, their title hopes could be as good as over already, and it’s only November.