Carragher explains why he thinks TAA shouldn't be given a special send-off

Jamie Carragher believes Trent Alexander-Arnold shouldn't be given a special send-off after his decision to join Real Madrid - but condemned the boos directed at the full back during the 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.

Alexander-Arnold made his first appearance at Anfield since confirming he would be leaving his boyhood club for the Bernabeu at the end of the season, and was brought on as a second-half substitute for potential successor Conor Bradley.

The change was greeted by audible jeers from home supporters and many of his early touches also brought about more boos. Chants of 'there's only one Conor Bradley' broke out as the crowd made their feelings clear over his departure.

Despite condemning the frosty reception for going 'too far', Carragher said Liverpool could do without the 'circus' surrounding the 26-year-old and claimed he is not deserving of an emotional farewell after his final game.

'He doesn't need to come on the pitch,' the pundit said on Sky Sports. 'Everyone will come on the pitch at the end of the game. He doesn't need to be brought on.

'I said before, I don't know about a send-off or anything like that. He is choosing to leave. I don't agree with that [booing] today.

'But I don't think he should be given a big thing at the end of the season or given a microphone to do a big speech in front of the crowd.

'He is choosing to leave and that's why the frustration is there. That for me was a step too far. Sing other players' names, don't boo a player who's wearing a Liverpool shirt.'

Carragher then claimed that the bulk of Liverpool's squad would also secretly desire to play for Real Madrid, adding: 'I think team-mates in this dressing room would normally rally around most people 99 per cent of the time.

'Supporters of any football club right now will probably not want to hear this, but most players in that Liverpool dressing room probably want to play for Real Madrid.

'I've been in a dressing room where players left us to go to Barcelona and Real Madrid. It's really hard for supporters. You almost feel like they fall for it every time, "this player absolutely loves us". And then they move on and go somewhere else.

'Players don't think like supporters. A lot of those players in the dressing room will think they'd love to play for Real Madrid.'

Boss Arne Slot insisted on Friday that he would not tell angry supporters how they should feel while Alexander-Arnold's team-mate - and close friend - Andy Robertson said it was 'not nice' to hear the boos directed at the defender.

'In general and life, the good thing about living in Europe, everyone can have their opinion. That's the same here in Liverpool,' Slot said post-match.

'There were people who were not so happy, there were people who were happy for him. They clapped for him. A few of them booed. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Towards the end, a few of them got more and more positive. But for me, it's simple.

'I owe it to the team, to the fans, to play a team that can win a game of football. Trent showed it because he had two or three incredible balls.

'We were so close to winning it, partly because of him. For me, it's not that difficult. And for the fans, they can have the reaction they want. I will always back my players.'

Robertson, who won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup in the same back four as Alexander-Arnold, said: 'There's a lot of emotion around it. It's crucial in these moments that I don't tell you how to feel and you don't tell me how to feel about it. All I can do is tell you how I feel about it.

'First of all, I'm disappointed to lose my best mate. In the game, we've done it all together. He's an amazing player and person. He's made me a better player and that comes from the bottom of my heart.

'He's taken me to levels where I never knew existed. He kept pushing me through the good years. And he's made a choice. His legacy at this club is obvious there to see. The trophies he's won, the moments he's had in history will always be there.

'It's an emotional decision. For Trent, it's not been an easy one. Of course it's not. But he's made the decision. It's not nice to see a friend get booed, it wasn't nice.

'But as I said, we can't tell people how to act. I can't tell you how I feel about it, I'm extremely proud of him. I love him as a player, I love him as a friend.

'He will be missed as one of my best friends in the game.'