Trent Alexander-Arnold has admitted that the continued abuse he receives from some Liverpool supporters more than a year after leaving Anfield for Real Madrid still “hurts,” while expressing hope that fans will eventually understand his decision to pursue a new chapter in his career.
The 27-year-old defender, who came through Liverpool’s academy and supports the club, left Anfield for Real Madrid 14 months ago.
Although he accepts the disappointment and anger surrounding his departure, he says some of the abuse directed at him online and through social media has “crossed the line.”
Alexander-Arnold insists Liverpool remains deeply important to him and says he continues to watch the club’s matches.
“The booing and disappointment from Liverpool supporters is something I’m absolutely able to shoulder. I can understand it, in my own way,” he said.
However, he hopes supporters will eventually recognise that his decision to leave was also about his own ambitions and personal life.
“But I hope one day there’ll be a degree of understanding about the decisions I wanted to make around my own life.”
The former Liverpool defender said the reaction is particularly painful because of the commitment he gave to the club throughout his career.
“It hurts because of how much I’ve put into the club over the course of 20 years and the sacrifices I made for the club during that period.”
Separating online abuse from Liverpool fans
Alexander-Arnold was booed by sections of the Anfield crowd when he returned with Real Madrid for a Champions League match in November, which Real lost 1-0.
Despite that experience, he said he is able to separate the hostility he encountered at the stadium and online from his personal interactions with people in Liverpool.
“Not a single interaction I’ve had in person reflects the sort of stuff you get online or via social media,” he said.
He described online abuse as a “sad part of life” in 2026 and said some of the messages directed at him have gone beyond legitimate criticism of a footballer’s decision.
“I choose to keep those things away from me because they don’t feel real,” Alexander-Arnold said.
He added that the abuse should not be viewed as representative of either Liverpool Football Club or the city where he grew up.
“I can rationalise that by knowing it’s not representative of a football club I love, LFC, and it’s not representative of my home city.”
The defender acknowledged that some Liverpool supporters remain unhappy about his decision to leave, but drew a clear distinction between disappointment and personal abuse.
“This isn’t me saying everyone in Liverpool is fine with me leaving the club - of course they aren’t. But that’s very different from the stuff that goes beyond the football.”
Gutted and angry after England World Cup omission
Alexander-Arnold also spoke candidly about his disappointment at being left out of England’s World Cup squad.
He entered the summer hopeful that manager Thomas Tuchel would select him and said he had deliberately avoided making plans because he was waiting for the decision.
When the call eventually came to his home in Madrid, it brought the news he had been hoping not to receive.
“I’ll be honest, I was full of hope,” he said. “When I put the phone down, I was properly gutted.”
Alexander-Arnold admitted that he was angry about missing out and said he expected England’s coaching staff to understand his reaction.
“I hope the coaching staff would expect and understand that I was angry.”
His last England appearance came as a substitute in a 1-0 victory over Andorra in June 2025, taking his international total to 34 caps.
Despite his omission, Alexander-Arnold insisted his desire to represent England remains as strong as ever.
“He [Tuchel] wants players who are desperate to play for England. I am one of those.”
He said his relationship with the national team extends beyond selection decisions.
“Until I retire, I’m still an England player, whether I’m selected or not. I’m always available if and when the manager needs me. There’s no bigger honour.”
Turning disappointment into motivation
Rather than allowing his World Cup disappointment to define his next season, Alexander-Arnold says he intends to use it as motivation.
He wants his performances for Real Madrid to earn him another opportunity with England and ultimately secure his return to the national team.
“I want to use it as fuel to get back into England squads and then back in an England shirt.”
For Alexander-Arnold, the coming season therefore represents an opportunity to respond on the pitch—to prove his value at Real Madrid, rebuild his international prospects and move beyond the controversy surrounding his Liverpool departure.
“That’s an aim of mine and I hope to achieve it.”
