Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he turned off his television when he heard supporters booing Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The 26-year-old defender is leaving the club at the end of the season and is expected to join Real Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold arrived at the club aged six and was a key component in Liverpool’s success under German Klopp, which included a first league title in 30 years in 2019-20.
However after announcing his decision to not sign a new contract, some fans turned against the player and some booed him when he came off the substitutes bench against Arsenal earlier this month.
Speaking at a fundraising event for the LFC Foundation on Friday, where he brought along a signed Alexander-Arnold shirt to auction, the ex-manager said supporters were “wrong” to boo and launched a passionate defence of the England full-back.
“I don’t want to tell you what you have to think. I can tell you what you think is wrong,” Klopp said.
“I don’t tell you you should not be angry, you should not be disappointed, I tell you don’t forget. This club doesn’t forget.
“I watched the game when he came on and I heard the booing. I switched the telly [television] off. Honestly, I could not have been more disappointed at this moment.”
And he highlighted the Liverpool-born player’s commitment to the club and his best moments during Klopp’s spell as manager.
“He gave absolutely everything and wears the Liverpool badge in the skin,” he said.
‘Why didn’t he sign a new contract?’. I hear this from fans, this money discussion: ‘He goes without a transfer fee’.
“They (the owners) have to be angry.
“This boy, 18 years old, scored a free-kick in Hoffenheim where if he doesn’t score that we don’t qualify for the Champions League.
“Against Barcelona he did the most cheeky thing in the world and set up the goal for 4-0, a result and a game which will not happen again.
“But now he plays next year for another club and we decide how we deal with that.”
