Trent Alexander-Arnold faced a barrage of abuse at Anfield and online for his performance against Manchester United when a fan told him he should join Real Madrid.
The Liverpool star has given the club 20 years of service since joining the club at the age of six, but a rare day off during Sunday's 2-2 draw left tensions running high.
Roy Keane slammed the England star for his 'schoolboy' defense and then Arne Slot was forced to dispel suggestions that his links with Real Madrid had affected his performances.
Alexander-Arnold gave the ball away to Lisandro Martinez for United's first goal and was substituted late having not won any duels.
Mail Sport's Lewis Steele heard a fan shout 'if you don't want to be here Trent, f*** off' after Martinez's goal in the 52nd minute.
Another posted a video of the right-back sitting in his place after getting off, writing: 'Some fans around me made their feelings clear to Trent. One said 'f*** get out of here' – I personally don't agree with that, but Trent needs to make sure he doesn't get through [sic] stinks when there is too much noise about his departure. He looked like a troubled soul on the bench.”
Many Liverpool fans would argue that Alexander-Arnold has had a strong season, registering five assists, returning to England and improving the defensive side of his game.
Mail Sport's James Sharpe wrote an analysis of how the star, while still Liverpool's captain, is playing with more caution under Slot.
But fans expressed their annoyance with the local boy on social media after the match.
'His head was somewhere else today. If he wants to go, he should say so,” one person said.
'Tb [to be honest] Alex Arnold was shocking the entire match,” wrote another.
“His body and soul are already at Real Madrid,” said another.
Others jumped to his aid. One said: 'Comments like this are why players get trust issues. Put yourself in his shoes.
'It's not as simple as just accepting a contract. Regardless of its current form. I support Trent. The joy he brought to all of us and the memories he made will never be forgotten.”
Another wrote: 'Trent was very poor today but you would think he would shock all season with some of these comments. And his contract situation is not ideal, but some of what is being said about him, and also from our own fans, is very unfair.”
After a difficult first half, Keane pilloried Alexander-Arnold on Sky Sports: 'It's too easy, just a few balls over the top. Trent defends that it's like a schoolboy thing. “If he's talking about going to Real Madrid, he's going to Tranmere Rovers next.”
But manager Slot was eager to defend one of his prized stars, whose contract expires at the end of June.
“I think nine out of 10 people will tell you it affected him. I'm (the) one of ten to tell you that I don't think this affected him.
'What affected him is that he had to play against Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, two starters for Portugal, great, great players.
'When these players focus on a match – and United does that from time to time – it is very difficult to play against them.
“I think this is more difficult for Trent to play against than the rumors that were out there this week.”
Liverpool, who restored a six-point lead over second-placed Arsenal with a game in hand, fought back from Martinez's opener to take the lead with a Cody Gakpo strike and Mohamed Salah's penalty before Amad Diallo leveled things out. Much of the post-match discussion focused on Liverpool's talent.
Jamie Carragher and Daniel Sturridge clashed in the studio over the star's transfer saga with Madrid.
Jamie Carragher suggested the player's representative may have met Madrid's premature £20million bid last week, while ex-Reds striker Daniel Sturridge disagreed.
“They would have known what happened,” Carragher said, referring to Alexander-Arnold's representatives.
“I'm not naive enough to think that Real Madrid would have made a bid in January for a player that they could get for nothing within four months.”
He added: 'Do you honestly believe that if this bid comes in, they'll sit at home and see it on Sky Sports and say 'wow!'
Sturridge insisted off-field matters would not affect his friend's on-field performance.
“He is a professional man,” said the former striker. 'It's not his personality not to be focused on the game. Trent can defend better, but there were times when he also had no help.
“It's a lose-lose either way. Everyone involved in the football club should want him to stay. The club knows that Trent's contract is expiring.
'His contract still runs for six months. None of the three should be in this predicament. We are not aware of any contracts being offered and rejected. Jurgen's departure was a spanner in the works for everyone.
“To leave these three players in a predicament like this.”
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