Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has criticised the club's fans for booing Trent Alexander-Arnold after admitting he had never been more disappointed by their actions.
The German, who is beloved on Merseyside after winning the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup in a nine-year spell that ended last summer, said he turned off the TV when he heard the boos.
Unlike his successor Arne Slott, who said it was not his job to tell fans how to react, Klopp did not hold back his contempt for their behaviour.
“I don't want to tell anyone what to think, but I can tell you what you think it's wrong. I'm an old man and I don't waste my time hiding my opinion. I was watching the game when he came on and I heard the boos. I'm old, so that's my hearing, so I turned up the volume and said “That's boos“. It took me another 10 seconds to realize, and then I turned off the TV. Honestly, I couldn't be more disappointed at that moment. That's not us, 100%.
I'm not telling you not to be disappointed or angry, I'm telling you “Don't forget“. This club doesn't forget. We're known for not forgetting. We don't forget anything: we don't forget the good things and we don't forget the bad. But we ignore the bad and remember the good.
You don't have to be happy that he's gone, but don't forget what he did for this club because I can't forget him," said Klopp, who was the guest of honour at the LFC Foundation Ball, for which he is an ambassador.
Klopp listed a number of times Alexander-Arnold has contributed to the club and stressed that without his contribution they would not have achieved the success they have.
The England international has decided to end his 20-year stay at the club when his current contract expires in the summer and is expected to sign for Real Madrid.
Klopp said he was perfectly within his rights to do so and if anyone has a right to be angry, it's owners Fenway Sports Group, as it is their multi-million pound asset that is going away without money.
“I was there every day - if he hadn't "everything, I would tell you now, but every day he gave absolutely everything for this club and now, after 20 years, he decided he wanted to go somewhere else," added the German, who said he had considered attending the final game of the season on Sunday wearing Alexander-Arnold's shirt but did not want to distract from the Premier League trophy ceremony.