Joe Cole: Alexander-Arnold was trained by Liverpool and I hope the fans can give him a standing ovation after the game

When he returned to Anfield for the first time after joining Real Madrid, Trent Alexander-Arnold was booed by thousands of Liverpool fans. Before the game, England star Joe Cole said in an interview with Paddy Power that it was unfair to accuse Alexander-Arnold of being disloyal.

Joe Cole said: "Arnold is an authentic Liverpudlian. He has been a Liverpool fan since he was a child. He has realized his dream here and even exceeded his dream. He has won every honor in the club and then wants to try a new challenge. There is only one football career, and he may feel that if he does not go to Real Madrid now, he will never do it again in the future. "

"Only fans are qualified to say that he is disloyal. From the time Arnold entered Liverpool's youth training at the age of six or seven, until he reached the first team, every teammate around him would be eliminated when the club deemed them to be of no use. As a player, you will become a little more realistic and calm after seeing this. "You realize that when Liverpool decide to let go of a player, whether it's a 500-game veteran or a 13-year-old kid with a dream, they leave, and no one talks about loyalty and no one accuses the club of doing anything wrong."

"In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with Alexander-Arnold." God, everyone can celebrate what he has achieved for the club because he has really accomplished many amazing things. It is an amazing opportunity to go to Real Madrid and maybe one day, he will return to Liverpool."

Joe Cole expects that Alexander-Arnold may receive some ridicule before and after the game, but he hopes that the fans will give him applause at the end of the game.

"I think they will put some pressure on him during the game, after all, they want to win, but I hope that after the game, the fans can give him a standing ovation. After all, he is a player they have trained. What he has achieved at the club is amazing, so I hope he can get the welcome he deserves."