Andy Robertson admitted that it was not fun to hear Liverpool supporters Boo Trent Alexander-Arnold during Sunday's 2-2 draw with Arsenal, although he and Boss Arne Slot respect that fans can have their own opinion.
The Premier League champions ran in a 2-0 lead after receiving an honorary guard from the Gunners, where Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz scored within 87 seconds halfway through the first half.
Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino, however, scored when Arsenal roared back in the second half, and they held on to a point, even though the latter was sent late for two bookable violations.
Alexander-Arnold, who announced that he would leave Liverpool this week and is expected to join Real Madrid, replaced Conor Bradley as a 67th minute.
His arrival was booed loudly by many supporters, just like his first pair of accents, and Robertson was disappointed to see a good friend who received treatment.
“I am disappointed to lose a good friend. He is a great player and a great person. He pushed me through and made me a better player,” Robertson told Sky Sports.
“His legacy will always be there, he has done so much for this club. He will be missed for me as one of my best friends in the game. We did it all together. He brought me to levels that I never knew they existed.
“It has not been easy for Trent, but he made the decision. It was not nice to see him, but you can't tell people how to feel.
“That's how I think about it, and I'm not going to tell anyone else how I can think about it.”
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– Liverpool FC (@LFC) 11 May 2025
Finally, he could not tell the supporters of Liverpool how to respond to Alexander-Arnold, while preaching the performance of the bank's right back.
“In general it is good that it is good to live in Europe, everyone can have their opinion. That is the same here in Liverpool,” Slot told Sky Sports.
“There were people who were not so happy, there were people who were happy for him. They collapsed for him. A few of them stuck out.
“Everyone has the right to their opinion. By the end, a few of them have become more and more positive. But for me it is simple. I owe it to the team, to the fans, to play a team that can win a football match.
“Trent showed it because he had two or three incredible balls. We were so close to winning it, partly because of him.
“It is not that difficult for me. For the fans … they can have the reaction they want. I will always support my players, those I lead and wear the red shirt.
“It would not be fair to the whole of Liverpool to concentrate on the few who have been stuck. If they want, it's fine for me. But there were also many people who were really positive.”
Alexander-Arnold played nine passes on Sunday in the last third part, with only Mohamed Salah (18) and Dominik Szoboszlai (11)-Bijiden managed for 90 minutes.
Alexander-Arnold could make two more performances for the champions, who visit Brighton on 19 May and then host Crystal Palace on the last day.