Michael Owen has expressed his views on how Liverpool supporters ought to respond to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s impending departure from the club.
Following months of speculation, the English full-back recently confirmed that he would be leaving his boyhood team upon the expiration of his contract this summer to join Real Madrid.
Reports and rumors regarding Alexander-Arnold’s future circulated throughout the 2024/25 season as his contract approached its conclusion.
Alongside Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, it appeared that Arne Slot’s squad would lose three of their top players for free shortly after securing the Premier League title.
However, both Van Dijk and Salah opted to sign new contracts to remain at Anfield, while the homegrown talent Alexander-Arnold declared his intention to depart for Madrid.
The fan reaction has been mixed, with some supporters showing respect for the player before his exit, while others expressed anger over his decision.
In light of his own similar experiences, Owen has advised Liverpool fans on how to treat Alexander-Arnold during this transition.
During an appearance on ITV during coverage of horse racing, Owen was asked about Alexander-Arnold’s upcoming Liverpool exit and what he thought about the situation.
The former forward himself knows all about leaving the Reds for Madrid, having done so himself in 2004 and it’s a move that saw the club’s fanbase turn on him.
Owen was initially a hero at Liverpool, coming through the club’s ranks, but he decision to leave made him an enemy and it’s a situation that Alexander-Arnold could potentially find himself in following his exit.
Owen hopes that isn’t the case, though, and said:”Who can criticise him really? I know there will be one or two people that will. He’s been there, seen it, done it.
Won absolutely everything the game has got to offer for Liverpool.
If he wants to go and try something new for his family, for him, just to do something different in this life, I’ve got no problem.
“I know half of the fans will be screaming at the telly, but if I was a Liverpool fan, I’d be saying ‘thank you very much for all your service.
You’ve been incredible, you’ve won everything.
Thank you, good luck and we wish you well.’ That’s what I think, but of course, we’re talking football and football is different to anything else.”
Having come through the academy at Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold has played for the club in one capacity or another for 21 years.
He’s played 352 times for the senior team, winning multiple Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy and a number of other bits of silverware.
He’s departing having conquered England, but time will tell how he’ll be remembered by the Reds fans.