Trent Alexander-Arnold described his departure from Liverpool as the "perfect send off" as his contract comes to an end. The local lad, who has spent his whole career at Anfield, is now set to complete his move to Real Madrid.
For months, the future of Alexander-Arnold was a hot topic, alongside that of skipper Virgil van Dijk and leading scorer Mohamed Salah, who both extended their stays on Merseyside.
In the end, the defender was the lone figure among the trio who didn't pen a fresh deal with the club. He expressed a wish to take on new challenges and is now heading to Real Madrid.
However, the switch hasn't been finalized, as the right-back has been concentrating on his game. He departs Liverpool having clinched the Premier League title again and provided a heart-warming goodbye to the fans on the season's last day.
Tears were shed by Alexander-Arnold at the match's conclusion, yet he proudly lifted the trophy in front of the Kop afterwards. He took part in a celebratory parade the following Monday, with thousands cheering along the streets.
With a bit of reflection, the 26 year old opened up on social media: "Perfect send off. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I love my city."
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates with the Premier League trophy (Image: Getty Images)
Amidst a mix of reactions to the news of his leaving, Alexander-Arnold has been fervent about his affection for Liverpool, its people, and the supporters.
Despite this, some fans have shown displeasure, even resorting to jeers when he was substituted on in a match against Arsenal earlier in the month.
He received a rousing ovation in his farewell match against Crystal Palace, and Arne Slot was delighted to witness the defender being celebrated. "He deserved it.
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"I am very happy for him and everyone in and around the club that things worked out the way they did," the Dutchman expressed.
"It went brilliant when our fans are together. How brilliant they were before the Tottenham game, during the Tottenham game and afterwards I don't think you see as many special celebrations as you saw four weeks ago.
"I don't think you see many celebrations like we had them today. It's no surprise to me that they (the fans) were brilliant again today as they were throughout the whole season, as they were towards Trent."