Trent Alexander‑Arnold, 27, said he still receives abuse from Liverpool fans 14 months after leaving Anfield for Real Madrid. He revealed the ongoing harassment hurts, despite watching Liverpool matches and hoping for understanding.
Abuse from Liverpool fans hurts
Alexander‑Arnold told reporters that he continues to be booed online and in person. He said he watches every Liverpool game and that his boyhood club will always have a place in his heart. He added that the booing and disappointment from supporters is something he can shoulder, but he hopes for a degree of understanding about his personal decisions. He said the abuse hurts because of the 20 years he invested in the club and the sacrifices he made.
He recalled being booed on his return to Anfield during Real Madrid’s 1‑0 Champions League defeat in November. He said he can dissociate the online abuse from the interactions he has with fans when he visits Merseyside. He added that not a single in‑person interaction reflects the online messages. He said some online messages have crossed the line, but he chooses to keep them away because they are not representative of the club or the city.
Real Madrid season and online abuse
Alexander‑Arnold featured in 35 of Real Madrid’s 62 matches across all competitions last season. He said online abuse is a sad part of life in 2026 and that some messages have crossed the line. He said he can rationalise that they are not representative of the club or the city, and that he will keep them away from his mind.
Missing out on World Cup
Alexander‑Arnold said he went into the summer without plans, hoping Thomas Tuchel would take him to the World Cup. He was gutted when the phone rang at his home in Madrid and he did not get the call he wanted. His last of 34 caps came as a substitute in a 1‑0 win over Andorra in June 2025. He insisted he is still an England player, ready to play whenever the manager needs him, and that he will use his disappointment as fuel to return to the national squad.
Looking forward
He said he will turn his feeling of disappointment into a positive for the new season. He wants to use it as fuel to get back into England squads and wear an England shirt again. He added that he will keep his boyhood club in his heart and that he is still an England player, whether selected or not.
Final thoughts
Alexander‑Arnold said he hopes for a degree of understanding about the decisions he made around his own life. He said he is still an England player, whether selected or not, and that he is always available for the national team. He will use the disappointment he feels as a motivator for the next season and for a future England call‑up.
