Trent Alexander-Arnold was boosted by Liverpool’s open-top bus parade on Sunday, according to the England manager, Gareth Southgate, after the heartbreak of the club’s Champions League final defeat. Liverpool lost 1-0 to Real Madrid in Paris on Saturday night, with Alexander-Arnold at fault for the goal, which was scored by Vinicius Junior.
Alexander-Arnold and his teammates were not convinced about whether they should have the parade, Southgate said, which was to celebrate the season as a whole. Liverpool finished second in the Premier League to Manchester City, despite a 92-point haul, but they did win the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
“I have to say that Trent has taken great heart from the parade,” Southgate said, before England’s Nations League tie against Hungary in Budapest on Saturday, in which Alexander-Arnold could feature. “I think that was a significant lift for him and the rest of the team.
“Of course they were disappointed to lose the final but I think the connection they had with the fans that day has definitely been important for him and has allowed the whole team to move on. They weren’t sure it was the right thing but now they’ve done it, they absolutely recognise it was, so I think that was a lovely moment for all of them.”
Alexander-Arnold will remain with the England squad for Tuesday’s game against Germany in Munich before beginning his summer break and so missing the final two ties with Italy and Hungary at Molineux – a move that was arranged with Southgate before the Champions League final.
Southgate is conscious that Alexander-Arnold was the only player in his squad who did not have the week off at the end of a gruelling Premier League season. Southgate did not call up the Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson, believing it was more beneficial for him to rest.
