'No need for it!' - Ex-Liverpool star Jermaine Pennant slams fans who booed Trent Alexander-Arnold as right-back prepares to make Real Madrid move

Alexander-Arnold was introduced as a substitute during Liverpool's clash with Arsenal at the weekend and received a cavalcade of boos from the Anfield crowd. The right-back has announced his departure ahead of the summer, as he prepares to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Alexander-Arnold has, of course, been central to Liverpool's overall success in recent years and he has managed to win everything there is to win at Anfield. Nevertheless, some fans clearly believe that he should remain regardless, but he has closed that door, and Pennant has criticised the supporters who made their feelings known, as they upset both the full-back and his team-mates.

Pennant, who played for the Reds in the 2007 Champions League final, told talkSPORT: "There's no right and there's no wrong. Everyone's entitled to go in the stadium, they pay their money to watch their team, and they're allowed to say whatever they want within reason. They're allowed to clap, they're allowed to boo, they're allowed to cheer. So you can't tell someone not to do something.

"Would I do it personally? No. It's not going to help the team, because Trent and all of them team-mates have been on a crazy journey for multiple seasons, have won multiple trophies together, it's like a family, so if you know what one of your fellow colleagues has put himself through, in training, winning games, scoring last-minute goals, putting it all out there for you, and then to receive boos, you feel it as well. You saw the players in shock, he was in shock, he couldn't believe it, you could see in his body language, when he was passing it out to Salah, he didn't want to be there, he was upset and some of the players were as well and they went all flat.

"You can do it but is it worth it? Is it worth putting your team in jeopardy, is it worth putting that pressure on your team when you want to win a game? Maybe do it at the end of the season or whatnot but there's no need for it. You can voice your opinion."

Liverpool conclude their season with games against Brighton and Crystal Palace. It is unclear if Arne Slot will opt to take Alexander-Arnold out of the firing line.