Xabi Alonso says Trent Alexander-Arnold was ready to face a hostile reception on his first return to Anfield with Real Madrid but admits his side left Liverpool with a ‘bitter taste’ because of their defeat. The England international was met with boos from the home crowd during the warm-up and even louder jeers when he was introduced for the final nine minutes of the Reds’ 1-0 Champions League victory on Tuesday evening.
Alexander-Arnold, whose mural near the stadium was vandalised earlier in the day, was booed by the passionate home crowd every time he touched the ball and received a similar response when leaving the pitch after the final whistle. When questioned about his decision to bring on Alexander-Arnold, Alonso responded: “It was an intense game, and we know the atmosphere in Anfield on a Champions League night in a European ‘Clasico’.
“We needed his quality and we needed his threat from the wing. (His reception) could be expected. He is professional and mature. He was ready for that, no problem.”
The only goal of the match came shortly after the hour mark when Alexis Mac Allister headed home a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick, following Jude Bellingham’s booking for a foul on Ryan Gravenberch.
Alonso commented: “At half-time we said we needed to be in the game to have an opportunity but then we conceded a lot of fouls and Thibaut Courtois wasn’t able to save that header from the set-piece. Thibaut, though, was fantastic.
“But we have to understand we can’t commit so many fouls as the game could get away from us like it did today.”
When questioned whether Real had lacked intensity and energy against a lively Liverpool side, Alonso responded: “I don’t have those feelings. We competed well, Szoboszlai had an opportunity in the first half and Thibaut made a great save but we played at a high rhythm.
“What we were lacking today was perhaps to hurt them in the final third and be a real threat. In the second half it was just about the small details that fell in their favour.”
Alonso continued: “It was a bit difficult for us today. I’m not going to complain about my team, we gave it a good go.
“It was difficult for us. In our one-on-ones we weren’t able to cause problems. We leave with a bitter taste in the mouth but we have to analyse what we did today. We have to learn from these defeats.”
