Alexander-Arnold mural vandalised ahead of Anfield homecoming

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Anfield homecoming has started in awkward manner as a mural celebrating Trent’s Liverpool career gets defaced with the word “rat”.

Alexander-Arnold became a Premier League and Champions League winner after graduating from Liverpool’s academy, but received a flood of abuse after announcing his decision to leave the club at the end of last season.

He joined Real Madrid ahead of the Club World Cup and was loudly booed in his final outings at Anfield, with many supporters branding him a traitor for deciding to leave.

With Madrid set to face Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night, Arnold has publicly declared his excitement at the homecoming, but some Liverpool fans do not seem to share in his enthusiasm.

The England international Liverpool career is celebrated by a mural near the stadium, which bears his quote: “I’m just a normal lad from Liverpool whose dream has come true.”

Ahead of Tuesday night’s match, the mural was splattered with white paint and a graffiti message: “Adios, el rata (Goodbye, rat).”

Trent Alexander Arnold’s mural vandalised

The mural was commissioned by the podcast The Anfield Rap, and bears the brand of Fans Supporting Foodbanks, an anti-food poverty charity.

Workers have been dispatched to clean the mural ahead of the match.

Speaking ahead of Alexander-Arnold’s return to Anfield, Arne Slot had said he hoped the player would be well received: “He was my vice-captain last season and I have memories of working with him which were only positive and have memories from watching him on television which were only positive as well – I can remember multiple great moments of him in a Liverpool shirt. He will get a warm welcome from me. Let’s first wait and see if he is on the pitch tomorrow.”

Speaking to Amazon Prime this week, Alexander-Arnold added: “Whatever way I’m received, is the decision of the fans. I’ll always love the club, I’ll always be a fan of the club. I’ll always be thankful for the opportunities and the things we achieved together… they’ll live with me forever.

“No matter what, my feeling won’t change towards Liverpool. I’ve got memories there that will last me a lifetime and, no matter how I’m received, that won’t change.”