Trent Alexander-Arnold kissed the Liverpool badge on his chest one last time, his eyes wet with tears, as the red half of Merseyside roared its approval.
After 20 years with the club—from academy hopeful to Champions League winner—Alexander-Arnold bowed out in front of a full house at Anfield. It was an emotional send-off, coming moments before Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy, capping a triumphant season with the taste of both glory and goodbye.
The 26-year-old, expected to sign with Real Madrid this summer, came off the bench during the 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace. It was his final appearance in red. Just two weeks earlier, he had been booed at Anfield following news he would leave on a free transfer.
But on Sunday, all was forgiven.
“To get the reception I got means more than anything to me,” he told Sky Sports after the match. “I’ve played hundreds of games for the club, but I’ve never felt so loved and cared for than today.”
Alexander-Arnold replaced Conor Bradley midway through the second half, greeted by cheers rather than jeers. The crowd stood and applauded as he touched the turf that had been his home for two decades.
“There wasn’t a day, minute or second I didn’t think about the team,” he said, fighting back tears. “From six years old to now—20 years is a very long time. But I’ve loved every minute—the ups and the downs.”
Born in West Derby, just minutes from Anfield, Alexander-Arnold grew up dreaming of wearing the famous red shirt. He lived it. A product of the club’s youth academy, he became one of the most influential right-backs of his generation. Trophies followed: a Champions League in 2019, a Premier League in 2020, and now, another domestic crown in his final season.
But his decision to leave hasn’t been without controversy. News of his exit sparked backlash from some fans who felt blindsided. Still, Sunday’s send-off suggested healing had begun.
“I hope the fans can recognise the hard work and everything I did for the team,” he added. “It’s not sunk in that I’m leaving—it’s all I’ve ever known. Sometimes I think, ‘I’ll be back next season,’ but then I remember. Things are changing.”
Indeed, they are. Manager Arne Slot is set to begin a new era at the club, while several familiar faces—Alexander-Arnold among them—are preparing to move on.
Captain Virgil van Dijk embraced his long-time teammate on the touchline, and Andy Robertson shared a farewell message on social media calling Alexander-Arnold “a brother” and “a legend of this club.”
Asked what the club meant to him, Alexander-Arnold simply said: “It’s been an honour and a privilege.”
In a career that began on these very streets and soared to heights few Scousers could dream of, his farewell was as heartfelt as it was historic.
As he walked off the pitch, arm in arm with his teammates and medal around his neck, Alexander-Arnold looked up to the Kop one last time. He raised his hand and clapped back at the crowd.
It was goodbye. But it was also thank you.
