Liverpool have ended the Premier League season with a draw with Crystal Palace at Anfield. They have won the championship before, so the result of this match is not worth caring about. Right after the final whistle, the Premier League silver trophy was brought out for the entire team and fans to celebrate.
In the official squad against Palace, Alexander-Arnold was not present. He came off the bench, played his final minutes in red, where he had grown up, been nurtured since his childhood, won all the glory and was about to become a thing of the past.
"I don't know what I'm expecting when I step onto the Anfield pitch today, especially after what happened a few weeks ago. Receiving this welcome from the fans is more meaningful than anything.
I have played hundreds of games for Liverpool but have never felt more loved and cared for than today" - Alexander-Arnold shared after the draw with Palace.
A few weeks ago, after posting a video saying goodbye to Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold received a backlash from fans. He is the most successful product of Liverpool's training center at the moment. After winning every possible title under Jurgen Klopp, Alexander-Arnold won the Premier League once again with his new coach Arne Slot before saying goodbye.
He did not choose to leave when he was still under contract with his home team. Alexander-Arnold's current contract with Liverpool has expired, meaning he can freely choose a new destination. Despite the truth, many Kop fans still cannot swallow the prospect of their beloved player leaving the team. Because Alexander-Arnold has been a very familiar image to them for many years.
Legend Steven Gerrard has previously been plagued by Liverpool fans after being linked with a move to Chelsea. In the end, he stayed in the Merseyside red shirt until he was 34 and then went to the US to compete to end his career. This time, facing an important turn, Alexander-Arnold chose to leave.
When he took a corner kick against Palace, the screams and whistling were still there but had decreased significantly compared to a few weeks ago. This time, the applause and thanks were heard more. It was a peaceful end for Alexander-Arnold after leaving the club he has been with for 17 years.
What Real Madrid can give Alexander-Arnold is very clear, which is his incomparable position, title and splendor. It was Real Madrid, not any other team, that defeated Liverpool twice in the 2018 and 2022 Champions League finals. A team that gathers the world's biggest stars will have a place for Alexander-Arnold, which is an undeniable attraction.
Liverpool's coronation ceremony at Anfield last Sunday was like an emotional train for Alexander-Arnold. He was worried when he stepped onto the pitch, enjoyed every last moment at Anfield and said goodbye to the fans in tears.
"I still haven't really defined my emotions at the moment. Sometimes in farewells like this, I know everything will come back in the next season. However, this time it's not, everything has changed.
From the time he joined the football club's academy until now, 20 years is a very long time, full of ups and downs. Being nurtured in an academic environment, being promoted to the first team and then becoming an indispensable member of the team, that is an honor and also a privilege for me" - Alexander-Arnold shared.
Alexander-Arnold has truly become a hero of the city. He is a local, grew up in a club environment and won enough glory in that shirt. Previously, seniors like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher could not win as many trophies as Alexander-Arnold. This defender once said that what he has with Liverpool is much more meaningful than winning 10 titles with Real Madrid, Chelsea or Inter Milan.
Liverpool fans will, from being angry, calm down and then come back and will miss Alexander-Arnold very much. This defender does not always play brilliantly, there are times when his performance drops miserably, but in the end, he is still remembered as the most successful local Liverpool player in the team's history. Sudden farewells will be forgiven, all that remains are the most beautiful memories.
Alexander-Arnold is a person who has made a great contribution to Liverpool's current successful era. In the near future, if Real Madrid visit Anfield, this star hopes to have a standing ovation so that he does not feel away from his true home.
