The afternoon had started as everyone hoped. A sea of red, a carnival atmosphere, the party roaring through the concourse.
Even when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s name was read out among the substitutes, there was no indication of what was to come. Why would there be?
Anfield was set to welcome the Premier League champions. A day that was going to live long in the memory. We got that but for wildly different reasons.
Even now, 48 hours on, it seems surreal that the Kop split and the party ended abruptly, with fingers jabbing and faces contorted in fury.
What happened when Arne Slot introduced Alexander-Arnold into a game Liverpool led 2-1 was unprecedented, a level of rage in some quarters that is usually reserved for opposition players who take on the role of the pantomime baddie.
Alexander-Arnold was always going to be made aware of local animosity, six days after announcing he would be leaving when his contract expires. Many took the chance to vent. Others were embarrassed to stand alongside a baying mob.
The Kop is split over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid
What happened when Alexander-Arnold came on against Arsenal was unprecedented
Many took the chance to vent. Others were embarrassed to stand alongside a baying mob
First, the explainer: the anger comes from how Alexander-Arnold and his camp have handled this situation, running down his contract, not speaking publicly on his future and making declarations he wanted to win a Ballon d’Or more than another Champions League with Liverpool.
Everyone is free to make choices in life, but it is difficult for locals to understand why you would walk away when Liverpool look ready to take flight. One thing you don’t do in this city is get too big for your boots, and some clearly feel he has done that.
I don’t agree. I know of several players who downed tools and showed dreadful attitudes in training to try to engineer moves away. Alexander-Arnold has never missed training or put a foot out of place.
None of that mattered, however, as the fury spread like a wildfire.
Each touch was greeted with a cacophony, each boo divided those in the stands.
On the Kop, it was clear the angriest were younger supporters; older heads despise the idea of someone in Red being booed.
Soon the division turned to animosity. In two separate incidents, stewards had to stop scuffles breaking out. Some got up and walked out. It was a dreadful experience.
It affected the players, too, as Dominik Szoboszlai – one of Alexander-Arnold’s closest friends in the squad – shook his head when the pair walked towards the Kop at the final whistle and the England man was greeted with more boos.
Players were affected and someone who should have been a hero was drummed out of town
So the day ended in a way nobody wanted. A game that should have been won was drawn, a player who should have been a hero was drummed out of town.
It was made clear to my generation that you never turn on one of your own when the world is watching. The landscape, regrettably, has changed.
