6th November 2025
November 6 – Many believe that Trent Alexander-Arnold should be remembered as one of Liverpool’s best-ever players, and surely in the top three fullbacks to ever don the famous red shirt. After all, here was a local lad who lived the dream and helped deliver the glory days back to Anfield.
Instead, his mural on Sybil Road was defaced ahead of his Champions League return with his new club, Real Madrid. The word “rat” was scrawled across his image, along with an unhealthy splash of white paint.
For a club that has the reputation for respecting the game and its participants, the treatment of TAA feels antithetical to who Liverpool fans claim to be.
Alexander-Arnold came through the Reds academy, captained his club, and lifted every major trophy there is to win in England, along with the UEFA Champions League. He was a lynchpin of the Jurgen Klopp era, redefining what it means to be a modern fullback.
Yet because he ran down his contract and left for Madrid on a free transfer (Real did pay $11.4m to release him early), some fans now treat him like a traitor.
In today’s hyper-tribalized environment, you can somewhat understand losing a player of his calibre stings. But calling him a rat and vandalizing his mural?
Players move clubs all the time; it’s part of the game, and Liverpool could’ve been more aggressive with their offers. Footballers also need new challenges to test how far they can go in the game. None of that erases what they did before.
Alexander-Arnold didn’t betray Liverpool. He gave them his best years, countless assists, and memories that will live forever.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at [moc.l1762422684labto1762422684ofdlr1762422684owedi1762422684sni@r1762422684etsbe1762422684w.kci1762422684n1762422684](javascript:;)