“It’s pathetic in many ways” - Michael Owen on Liverpool fans ‘baffling’ ex-players with antics as he warns Alexander-Arnold
Michael Owen has admitted that former Liverpool players are baffled at fans singing names of players who did not represent the club a lot of the pitch. He believes that the catchy names help them get the chants and that is something they discuss among themselves at times.
Speaking to LiverpoolECHO, Owen warned Trent Alexander-Arnold that he was risking the fans going after him if he opts to leave. He believes that the fans forget everything players did for the club as soon as they opt to leave when there is a lot left to offer. He said (via GOAL):
“I get it, I'm not stupid. Someone would say, 'But he (Alexander-Arnold) won't go to Manchester United or he won't do this or he won't do that', but I didn't expect to either."
Owen added:
"Circumstances will dictate how people are viewed. I can go back to Anfield and listen to the crowd, the Kop singing for players that played 10 games and were pretty average for Liverpool, but because they've got a catchy name, they get sung to all the time and people have this assumption that they are great for the club."
"All of us ex-players are baffled and actually giggle at certain things like that. Listen, football can be so much as what happens on the last bloody game of your career. You can go throughout your life and be absolutely extraordinary and do everything for a club, but the one little moment, people half remember that. It's pathetic in many ways, but that's it, isn't it? That's life."
Michael Owen has experience of leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid, and has warned Trent that he would also face the same heat from the fans.
Michael Owen has previously warned Trent Alexander-Arnold of leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid
Michael Owen spoke to The Telegraph earlier this season and stated that Trent Alexander-Arnold's situation was an interesting one as he was in the final months of his contract. He admitted that the lure of Real Madrid would tarnish his legacy at Anfield and said (via GOAL):
"The Trent situation is an interesting one… Trent has done everything for Liverpool. He adores L'pool. If he goes, no one should begrudge him a different experience in his life and career. Whatever happens he should be regarded as a hero. Sadly, it does affect the way people view you. It will tarnish him in some eyes even though it shouldn’t."
Apart from Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Reds also have the contracts of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to take care of this season. All three players will become free agents at the end of the season and are in talks with the club.