An emotional Trent Alexander-Arnold mentioned that he had “by no means felt so liked and so cared for than at present” and admitted it has not but sunk in that he can be leaving the membership this summer season throughout Liverpool’s Premier League title celebrations.
Alexander-Arnold introduced earlier this month he would go away his boyhood membership on the finish of the season, having joined Liverpool’s academy on the age of six. The 26-year-old is predicted to affix Real Madrid on a free switch this summer season and sources have instructed ESPN the Spanish membership need the right-back to affix them in time to play at this summer’s Club World Cup.
He was jeered by some supporters at Anfield when he got here off the bench in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal. Nevertheless, he was given a heat reception when he was launched at first of the second half within the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday.
The appropriate-back was additionally visibly emotional at full-time, breaking down in tears together with his household on the pitch.
“I did not know what to anticipate,” he instructed Sky Sports activities. “Yeah, I did not know what to anticipate. Stepping out at Anfield at present after what had occurred a couple of weeks in the past, however I needed to play for the membership yet one more time. I mentioned that to the supervisor and he trusted me to go in there at half-time and to get the reception that I obtained it means greater than something to me.
“I’ve performed tons of of video games for the membership, however I’ve by no means felt so liked and so cared for than at present, and I discovered the underside of my coronary heart I hope that in the future the followers and the supporters of this membership will have the ability to recognise the laborious work and the whole lot that I’ve carried out for the staff. As a result of there wasn’t a day, there wasn’t a minute, there wasn’t a second that I did not take into consideration the staff.
“From six years previous to 26 now — 20 years. It is a very, very very long time however I’ve liked each single minute of it. The ups and the downs, coming by the academy, making it to the primary staff, then being a part of the primary staff correctly. It has been an honour and a privilege for me to be part of this membership.”
Requested whether or not it has sunk in that he will not be taking part in for Liverpool subsequent season, Alexander-Arnold added: “No, as a result of it is all I’ve ever identified. So at occasions you catch your self questioning, ‘yeah you may be again subsequent season’ and then you definately realise, no, that is not the case as a result of it is modified.
“However I will keep in mind these moments for the remainder of my life, particularly a day like at present. It goes down as the very best day for me in my life. A really, very big day and a really particular achievement for the staff and for the membership.”
Arne Slot mentioned he was grateful that the followers gave Alexander-Arnold an excellent send-off.
“It is no shock to me in any respect that they have been sensible once more at present as they have been all through the entire season as they have been in direction of Trent,” the Liverpool head coach instructed a post-match information convention.
“However possibly it additionally helped what an unbelievable half he performed. The passes he performed have been … When you make a spotlight of this, in all probability it may take you three, 4 or 5 minutes. The ball to Darwin [Núñez] was one other degree, it was subsequent degree. So he deserved it.
“Very glad for him, for everybody in and across the membership that issues labored out as they did and I believe all people might see how troublesome he had it after the sport and that tells you ways laborious it’s to go away a membership like this and that is all we will attempt to do to — make it so laborious for the gamers to go away.”