Arne Slot has warned Trent Alexander-Arnold that he has ‘no clue’ how Liverpool fans will treat him after they play Real Madrid within the Champions League.
Real Madrid travel to Anfield on Tuesday night, pitting two of the competition’s most successful teams against one another.
The clash has been hotly anticipated for the reason that attract August, more so this season because it sees Alexander-Arnold returning to Merseyside for the primary time since he left his boyhood club last summer.
The England international’s decision to not sign a brand new contract with Liverpool and team up with Jude Bellingham in Madrid sparked outrage amongst Reds fans, with the defender subjected to boos from his own supporters towards the tip of last season.
Slot and Jurgen Klopp criticised the jeering fans, which briefly quietened the discourse, nevertheless it is anticipated that Anfield will give the 27-year-old a chilly reception on Tuesday.
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Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Monday, Slot said he would give Alexander-Arnold a ‘warm welcome’ and urged fans to be in full voice to assist the team get the higher of Los Blancos.
‘I can only let you know what reception he gets from me,’ the Liverpool manager said.
‘I even have great memories of the player and human, my vice captain. I even have memories working with him which can be only positive. I watched him in front of the tv and only great memories of him in a Liverpool shirt.
‘He’ll get a warm welcome from me but let’s see how our fans react, I even have no clue. A warm welcome from me, that’s for certain.’
Addressing the Anfield faithful directly, Slot added: ‘I say to them, show up tomorrow and help us like they did on Saturday.
‘They were a giant help for the team and again tomorrow we face a team that’s on a fantastic run, just as [Aston] Villa was. Then it’s at all times a pleasure to play at home.
‘Within the run we had, we almost only played away. On Saturday Anfield showed how vital they could be for the team and let’s hope the fans do the identical tomorrow evening.’
Ryan Gravenberch, who played alongside Alexander-Arnold for 2 seasons, echoed his manager but added that he had not been in much contact along with his former teammate.
‘From the fans I don’t know, but he’s obviously a friend of mine so I’ll give him a hug in fact,’ the midfielder said when asked what reception the right-back would get.
“Not a whole lot of messages but I’ll see him tomorrow.’
Alexander-Arnold, who revamped 350 appearances for the Reds, winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League, said he had ‘mixed feelings’ ahead of the large game.
His Real Madrid profession has not got off to the very best start, struggling in each La Liga and the Club World Cup, and he has not played since mid-September after suffering a hamstring injury.
Liverpool have also struggled since his departure, with Slot trialling out multiple players within the right-back role to mixed results, while Mohamed Salah’s output has significantly dropped without the Englishman’s creativity.
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