Virgil van Dijk Shuts Down Trent Alexander-Arnold Question as Bellingham Reacts to Boos

Liverpool midfielder Alexis MacAllister opened and closed the scoring soon after the hour mark on Tuesday night, delivering a much-needed victory for Arne Slot’s side as Real Madrid went goalless for the first time this season. Much of the pre-match buzz revolved around Trent Alexander-Arnold’s expected reception, and Virgil van Dijk’s post-match comments summed it up nicely.

Slot and his team had a difficult spell in October after winning the Premier League for the first time the previous season. In an attempt to defend the title, the campaign began well with five victories, but six losses in seven games across all competitions began to worry the Anfield faithful.

Returning to form with a narrow but comfortable 1-0 victory over Xabi Alonso’s Los Blancos would have taken some of the pressure off Slot’s shoulders – for the time being. Mac Allister’s well-placed header was the difference, but all eyes were on Alexander-Arnold, who had to deal with a barrage of insults from the home fans as he warmed up. Things only heated up when he came on for Arda Guler in the 81st minute.

Watch and listen to the Anfield fans’ reactions to Alexander-Arnold’s substitution:

Van Dijk’s Stubborn Answer to Alexander-Arnold Question

Alexander-Arnold is no longer a popular figure on Merseyside, having left the club on a free transfer to join Madrid this summer, and fans believe he ran down his contract. As a result, they were unable to earn a transfer fee for his services, which appeared to be quite high on paper.

Ahead of his comeback, the word “rat” was painted over the right-back’s mural, which is placed near Anfield and is designed to commemorate all the Liverpudlian – who made his debut under previous manager Jurgen Klopp – accomplished throughout his 354-game spell with the Liverpool senior team. Many fans, correctly or unjustly, have abandoned him.

Many Liverpool players, including Mohamed Salah, were seen consoling their former comrade at the final whistle, but those inside the stadium were sure to express their feelings every time he touched the ball.

Following their 1-0 victory, Walcott asked the Reds captain, who is widely considered as one of the finest defenders in Premier League history, whether he had a chance to speak with his former teammate. “Virg, did you get a chance to see Trent before the game?” the former Arsenal winger inquired.

“There was a lot of discussion about the conditions he would have faced tonight. Have you seen him? Or will you have an opportunity to see him?”

Despite his excitement in defeating the Champions League’s record holders, Van Dijk simply answered, “No.”

In response to Van Dijk’s comments, Liverpool fans hailed the Dutchman for his candor. “I didn’t know my respect for the skipper could grow any higher, but it just did,” one fan on X (previously Twitter) wrote, while another added, “I about fell over laughing at that. Perfection.” A final fan went a step farther, writing, “He hates him so much.”

Jude Bellingham, Alexander-Arnold’s club and country teammate, says Liverpool fans are still proud of what he has accomplished over the years. “Obviously, it’s one of those things in football,” the English midfielder told Amazon Prime, according to the Evening Standard. “The supporters’ booing is not indicative of how they feel about him.

“I believe that is intended to give their team an advantage and throw him off a little bit. I’m sure they appreciate what he’s done for the club. It’s one of those things.

Before moving to Spain, Alexander-Arnold was one of the most recognized academy graduates of the modern age, having been born and raised in Liverpool. Under Alonso, the defender has made 11 appearances in all competitions, but he has yet to secure a starting spot, which he did on his home turf.