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Jurgen Klopp has never been shy about showing emotion. But this time, it wasn’t joy on the touchline or a chest-pumping celebration.
It was something very different. The former Liverpool boss admitted he turned off the TV during the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Arsenal — because of what he heard from his own fans.
The game, played at Anfield on May 11, saw Trent Alexander-Arnold return to the pitch after recent headlines confirming a free transfer to Real Madrid.
Fans didn’t take it well. When Trent was subbed on in the second half, boos echoed around the stadium. And Klopp? He simply couldn’t watch anymore.
“I’m not saying don’t be disappointed,” Klopp said during a recent LFC Foundation event.
“But don’t forget what he’s done for this club. I heard the booing, I switched the TV off. I couldn’t have been more disappointed. This isn’t us.”
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New boss Arne Slot had a tough call to make in that game. Conor Bradley started at right-back, but with ongoing fitness issues, he couldn’t go the full 90.
So Trent came on — and the mood inside Anfield dipped.
Fans booed the local lad, not once, but several times — especially after he played Mikel Merino onside for Arsenal’s equalizer. Talk about adding salt to the wound.
Slot didn’t criticize the fans. He simply said they were free to express their views. But the image of Trent, once the golden boy of the Kop, now facing jeers from his own people, was hard to watch.
As Liverpool prepare for their final home game, Slot must now decide whether to give Alexander-Arnold a proper send-off. Some fans may not be ready to forgive, but Klopp’s message was loud and clear.
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Vishal Bhawani is a sub-editor for the Affiliate Content team and a writer and sub-editor for the Football Wires team at The Sporting News. Based in Indore, India, he holds a Diploma in Operations and Management from Maharashtra University.
Before joining TSN in May 2024, Vishal contributed to Football Express and Six Sports and ran his own blog, Anfield Home, as a passionate Liverpool fan. An avid traveler, he follows multiple sports, including cricket, soccer, and tennis.
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