Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has insisted that Trent Alexander-Arnold must "deal with" the reaction that comes his way after he was booed by his own fans in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
Following confirmation of his exit from his boyhood club at the end of the season, Alexander-Arnold's own supporters turned on him when he came off the bench to replace Conor Bradley at the weekend.
The England international was then at fault for the Gunners' equaliser, playing Mikel Merino onside when Martin Odegaard let fly from range before the Spaniard headed home the rebound unchallenged.
The reception towards Alexander-Arnold became more lukewarm as the match went on, and he was applauded when he sent a free kick just wide in front of the Kop, but there were still audible jeers whenever he was on the ball.
Arne Slot affirmed that all Liverpool fans are entitled to their own individual opinions when questioned on the crowd booing Alexander-Arnold, and Van Dijk echoed his manager's words when talking to reporters in the mixed zone.
Van Dijk echoes Slot sentiments on Alexander-Arnold
© Iconsport
"I think the manager said it right in the press conference that you can't decide how anyone feels about the decision he made for him and his family," The Athletic quotes Van Dijk as saying.
"The reaction happened. He has to deal with it. We as a team have to deal with that as well, by the way. But I think maybe he expected this. We have two more games and then we part ways and he will go somewhere else.
"He made the decision for himself and he's at peace with it. We have two more games that he will have to play a part in as well. I'm sure he will because he's a fantastic player and then we'll say goodbye to him."
While Alexander-Arnold appears to have been seduced by Real Madrid, Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are not yet ready to close their Liverpool chapters and will be staying on with the Premier League champions for at least another two years.
The latter two are several years older than Alexander-Arnold, who is in or about to enter the peak of his career, but Van Dijk and Salah could have expected mammoth offers from clubs in the Saudi Pro League.
Van Dijk: 'Liverpool is the only place to be'
© Imago
Nevertheless, the pair decided to extend their deals until the end of the 2026-27 campaign, and Van Dijk personally could not see himself swapping Merseyside for the Bernabeu, claiming that Anfield is the only place to be for him.
"Everyone has different opinions or different phases of their career so you can't compare our situations. I was very happy to eventually come to an agreement with the club," the Reds skipper added.
"Obviously, it's not really a Liverpool thing to go about it the way we did with me and Mo but, like I said when it was announced, I'm happy and proud to extend because for me there is no other place to be at this point."
Van Dijk also sent a firm message to the Liverpool hierarchy ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer of spending, as the Reds pursue an Alexander-Arnold replacement, a new striker, a new left-back and potentially additions in midfield and the heart of defence.
"I think it has to be a big summer and I trust the club and the people who make the decisions to do the right thing," he added. "It's an exciting time to be associated with Liverpool."
Alexander-Arnold's penultimate Liverpool appearance could come away to Brighton & Hove Albion next Monday, before his Reds career comes to a close at home to Crystal Palace on May 25.
Ben Knapton
