Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted that all Reds fans are entitled to their own individual opinion when questioned about the Anfield crowd booing Trent Alexander-Arnold in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
The visit of Mikel Arteta's side represented the Premier League champions' first game since Alexander-Arnold - who is expected to join Real Madrid this summer - confirmed his exit on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Slot opted to start Conor Bradley in Alexander-Arnold's place as he prepares for a world without the Englishman, although he elected to make a straight swap at full-back midway through the second half.
However, Alexander-Arnold was audibly jeered by large sections of the Anfield crowd and was then at fault for Mikel Merino's equaliser, playing the Spaniard onside after Martin Odegaard let fly from range.
The boos appeared to die down as the second half went on, but there were still some negative reactions whenever Alexander-Arnold picked up the ball as Liverpool fans made their feelings towards the 26-year-old perfectly clear.
Slot on Alexander-Arnold boos: 'Everyone is entitled to their opinion'
© Imago
Slot was inevitably quizzed on the reaction to Alexander-Arnold's introduction by Sky Sports News, and the Dutchman refused to criticise those that booed the Real Madrid-bound defender but elected to focus on the supporters who had his back.
"The good thing about living in Europe is everyone can have their opinion," Slot said. "There were people who were happy with him, there were people that were not so happy with him. They clapped for him, some booed.
"Everybody is allowed their opinion and towards the end more and more people got more positive. For me it is simple, I owe it to the fans to play a team that can win the match. Trent showed why I brought him in because he had two or three incredible balls [into the box].
"For the fans, they can always have the reaction they want but I will always back the players I lead and the ones that wear the red shirt. I will back them no matter what.
"It would not be fair to focus only on the Liverpool fans that booed. If they want to, it's fine but there were a lot of people that were really positive about him as well."
Did Slot need to bring Alexander-Arnold on against Arsenal?
© Imago
Given Bradley's relative lack of game time throughout the 2024-25 season - especially from the first whistle - it was no real surprise to see the Northern Ireland international not last the full 90.
However, Slot would - or should - have been all too aware of the reaction that Alexander-Arnold's introduction would have elicited, and his side were already under the cosh when he chose to make the change.
The boos would not only have affected Alexander-Arnold, but also his teammates and those in the crowd who have not turned on the 26-year-old, and the atmosphere could hardly have been any different from the first-half party.
Alexander-Arnold may currently be the only other out-and-out right-back in Liverpool's ranks, but Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones can also deputise in that area and are far more popular than the soon-to-be Blancos man.
Slot will of course always do what is best for the team, but with the Reds already guaranteed to finish first and the fans' verdict on Alexander-Arnold perfectly clear, perhaps the best course of action is to let him lie low until he departs.
Ben Knapton
