Alexander-Arnold deserves pats on back, not knives in it

Commentary

- Deepanraj Ganesan

Liverpool born and bred, a local player who lived the dream, winning every major honour with his boyhood club, and now leaving — not to join a rival side in the same league, but heading to the most iconic club in the world.

Does that tug at your heart strings? Sounds like something out of a movie, doesn't it? A little Goal-esque?

However you frame it in your head, if your reaction to Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure is one of pride or empathy, then you could be in the minority.

Regarded as one of the best right-backs in the world, the Englishman, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has announced that he is leaving the Reds. It is an open secret by now that his next destination is Real Madrid.

Most Liverpool fans are not swelling with pride. It is fair to say that the news has not gone down well with the Red half of Merseyside and Liverpool fans around the globe. Fans are upset that one of their club's most valuable assets, who is at the peak of his powers, will be leaving on a free transfer.

On social media and in WhatsApp groups, it is a contest of who has the harshest of takes. Amid all the vitriol, not many of the choice words used can make the cut for print.

But one does: Judas.

Why has it come to this?