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And with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta stood alone in his technical area midway through the first half, they sensed the moment to strike.

“Best team in Europe, you’re having a laugh!” came the cry from the Kop as the Reds revelled in the status of being crowned champions ahead of the Gunners long before this Anfield showdown between this season’s main contenders.

It helped that Arne Slot’s side had capitalised on Arsenal’s wavering character with a quickfire double from Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz to wrest full control.



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Come the halfway point of the second half, however, the mood was very different among the Liverpool faithful.

If there was frustration at a slow reaction after half-time that allowed the visitors back into the game, it was nothing compared to the fury and infighting prompted by the introduction of Trent Alexander-Arnold on 67 minutes.

This was the first game the Reds had played since the right-back confirmed he would leave at the end of the season on a free transfer, with Real Madrid expected to be his next destination.

And a sizeable vocal minority on the Kop greeted Alexander-Arnold with jeers on his introduction and boos whenever he touched the ball.

For the more seasoned Liverpool fans inside Anfield, it went against everything supporting the club stands for.

It’s difficult to remember a previous occasion when Liverpool fans have booed their own, and until the end of the season, Alexander-Arnold remains a Reds player.

Should Slot have seen this coming and avoided the situation.

But perhaps his mistake was putting the same faith in some fans as he has the player - don’t forget, the Reds boss has known about the imminent departure for almost two months and has still been calling on Alexander-Arnold.

Jeer him after he’s left if so inclined, such treatment Raheem Sterling, an unused substitute for Arsenal here, knows all about

But doing so now is only a self-destructive action.

So it inevitably all played completely into the hands of Arsenal, who levelled within three minutes through Mikel Merino and would have been favourites to go on and complete a comeback victory had the Spaniard not been dismissed following a second caution shortly afterwards.

When Alexander-Arnold joined his team-mates for the traditional post-match acknowledgement of support, he was again jeered by some who remained on the Kop

But some of their fans are anything but on the evidence of this needlessly divisive afternoon.

From party to poison, the last fortnight has brought out the best and the worst of the Reds fanbase.


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