'He didn't deserve it': Liverpool star Mo Salah hits out at 'harsh' Trent Alexander-Arnold boos | OneFootball

The academy graduate will search for a new challenge away from Anfield

Mohamed Salah has said he was disappointed by Liverpool fans’ decision to boo Trent Alexander-Arnold after his Anfield departure was confirmed earlier this month.

Alexander-Arnold joined Liverpool’s academy at just six years old, winning a raft of major honours including the 2019 Champions League and a brace of Premier League titles since making his first team debut in 2016. He is now looking for a new challenge, though, set to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season and reportedly nearing a move to La Liga with Real Madrid.

Alexander-Arnold and Salah will share one more trophy lift on the final day of the Premier League season

AFP via Getty Images

Andy Robertson condemned the boos in a post-match interview following that tie, and Salah is the latest Liverpool star to leap to Alexander-Arnold’s defence, saying he was sad to see the fans’ reaction and that he deserves more respect for his achievements with the club.

The Egypt international said: “We always appreciate the people that came here, even for six months. Imagine someone who gave you his all for 20 years, it shouldn’t be like this.

“The fans were being harsh with him, I think he didn’t deserve it.

“He deserves the fans to treat him in the best way possible because he gave it all to the fans.

Salah, who has shared in much of Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool success and played a key role in this season’s Premier League triumph, added that he hopes to see a better reaction from the fans in Liverpool’s penultimate league game of the season, where they will face Brighton away.

“I think he deserves the best farewell in leaving the club,” he continued, before adding that he respected the decision to leave.

“I’m not trying to convince him to stay because I know his 20 years in a club is not easy. It’s just so tough, people think it’s easy to take a decision and just stay – no, it’s not.

“He’s done a lot for the city and for the club, and he was probably one of the best players in the club’s history.

“So he gave it all and I think he needs a new challenge. He’s 25, 26 years old, won it all twice or three times over, what more can he do? He just needs to change and challenge himself.”

Alexander-Arnold will have the opportunity to bid farewell to Anfield as he lifts his second Premier League trophy on the last day of the season, hosting FA Cup finalists Crystal Palace.