Gary Lineker thinks that the applause some Liverpool fans were giving Trent Alexander-Arnold was drowned out by boos despite many clapping their former vice-captain on Tuesday.
The Anfield outfit faced Real Madrid in the Champions League at the start of the week, with the game ending 1-0 in the Reds’ favour.
Going into the tie, many thought that they’d get pummelled and that Alexander-Arnold would be made public enemy number one.
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
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And, although there were plenty of boos when he came on and when he touched the ball, Lineker shared that many fans were actually clapping their former player.
Gary Lineker thinks Liverpool fans who clapped Trent Alexander-Arnold were ‘classy’ with their reaction towards him
Going into the game, everyone knew that the Englishman’s reception at Anfield was going to be a little bit frosty.
Not only was the way he exited Liverpool far from ideal, but the fact that he chose to lead fans on for months on end without giving them a definitive answer about his future also burned many bridges.
Most thought that he’d end up following in Steven Gerrard’s footsteps and eventually become Liverpool’s captain; however, that’s not been the case.
And, even though most fans booed the Englishman, Lineker has said that he also spotted a fair few fans applauding the right-back.
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“I actually saw boos make a bigger impact than applause, but when they panned around the crowd, there were one hell of a lot of Liverpool fans that actually stood on their feet and applauded Trent Alexander-Arnold when he came on,” he said on The Rest is Football Podcast.
“And I think it’s important to mention that, because that was the classy way to deal with it. I get the rivalry and you want to boo your opponents anyway, whoever they are, but there’s a lot of classy responses, I think, from the Liverpool fans; they get drowned out by boos, because you can’t really hear applause as much.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold will never be welcome at Liverpool again
If Alexander-Arnold chose to extend his contract and continued to be a Liverpool player, he’d eventually have his name etched in the Anfield history books.
The defender was well on his way to becoming the Liverpool captain, and if he stayed around and won a few more trophies, he’d have undoubtedly become a legend.
Of course, his time as a Liverpool player cannot be frowned upon, and eventually, his time with the club is likely to be remembered fondly, but at the moment, fans dislike him.
Although he’ll never play for the Reds again, that doesn’t mean he’ll be welcomed with open arms every time he returns.
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid C. F. reacts following the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between Real Madrid CF and Al Hilal
Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Due to the way that he left and what he did to the Reds’ fanbase, for some, it’ll be hard for them to ever forgive him.
However, as long as the odd one or two applaud him, it feels like a happy medium and the best that the Englishman could’ve asked for.