Alexander-Arnold boos add rancour to season of glory

While feelings are running high over right-back's exit, jeers were self-defeating and have burst bubble of elation

- Andy Hunter

A large portion of Liverpool's match-going support delivered a damning verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold's career choice on Sunday and, in one short sentence, Virgil van Dijk explained perfectly why there is no need for an encore when the champions return to Anfield to collect the Premier League trophy on 25 May. "There's a lot more players that also deserve an amazing day," the Liverpool captain said. There is no division or dissent on that score.

Arsenal's visit to Anfield should also have been one long celebration, as well as an opportunity to demonstrate the gulf between the Premier League's first and second-placed teams this season. The first half played out exactly that way. Arsenal may have produced a reaction that increased Mikel Arteta's anger before Alexander-Arnold's introduction - "I hate reaction, I like action" - but the party was over as soon as the Real Madrid-bound defender replaced Conor Bradley in the 67th minute.

The boos that greeted the announcement of Alexander-Arnold's name before kick-off and his entry on to the pitch were a bigger surprise for their intensity and mass than the fact they were voiced at all. Anfield cannot be praised for its passion and noise on a European night then castigated for adopting an emotive position when one of its own decides to leave the club on a free. Equally, the boos that subsequently accompanied almost every touch of the ball from the feet that brought you that corner, those record Premier League assists by a defender and countless moments of breathtaking ingenuity, were grim and self-defeating. Arsenal equalised seconds after the right-back was jeered playing a pass, his teammates appearing stunned by the sound. At least the title wasn't on the line.