Many reasons why Alexander-Arnold's departure hurts Liverpool fans so much. Including he's a fabulous footballer.
Wednesday morning at five o'clock;
When the close season begins.
Silently closing the dressing-room door
Leaving the note that he hoped would say more.
He’s leaving home, bye, bye.
Friday morning, at nine o'clock;
He is far away;
Waiting to keep the appointment he made;
Greeting a man from the Bernabeu trade.
So many Beatles songs lend themselves to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s looming departure to Real Madrid, and don’t even mention “Hey Jude”, “Let it Be” and “Strawberry Fields Forever?”. All manner of emotions understandably course through Liverpool fans. Pain, anger, frustration, a sense of loss, even betrayal. For some, he was simply the Scouser in the team, living out their dreams. The local lad who represented them, their community, the city, was now turning his back on them.
The 26-year-old is walking out in his prime – for free. Personal goals, such as winning the Ballon d’Or, seemed to mean more to him than collective ones, and that’s never been the Liverpool way (or, in fairness, Alexander-Arnold’s). Many fans simply cannot comprehend there could be a bigger club out there than Liverpool.
Such reaction is hardly unique to Liverpool. Hell hath no fury like a football fan spurned. Liverpool stories, though, often come with added intensity across social media, phone-ins and forums (plus rival fans delighting in their distress and writers leafing through the Beatles songbook). The Kop is in ferment, social media in even more of a frenzy than usual. Alexander-Arnold’s Instagram froths with indignation from the snubbed and broken hearted.
To borrow a Liverpool phrase, this means more because, ultimately, they are losing a fabulous footballer. It would matter less, hurt less, if Alexander-Arnold wasn’t such a special player. The cloud of anger will eventually blow away, the tears will dry, and Liverpool fans will surely one day cherish the memories of their 66 and his incredible right foot. This will be no consolation at the moment, and the club will be mindful of when and how they do their video valedictories, but Anfield was fortunate to see a star emerge, light up their sky for almost a decade, before disappearing. So many memories. Where to start?