O'Hara: Booing Arnold Is Going Too Far; Liverpool Fans Are Too Harsh

Liverpool defeated Real Madrid 1-0 at home in the Champions League group stage match. During the game, when Real Madrid player Trent Alexander-Arnold came on as a substitute, he was booed by fans of his former club, the Reds. In response, former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara debated with a Liverpool fan named Peter Bolster while appearing on a show.

Regarding the boos Liverpool fans directed at Arnold, Reds fan Peter Bolster said: “There’s nothing wrong with a player leaving Liverpool—absolutely nothing. But it must be made clear that no former Liverpool player has ever been booed when returning to Anfield. This kind of thing has never happened.”

“Liverpool fans are one of the rare groups of supporters in the world who always welcome former players back. You can see them in the main stand, supporting the team every week. But this situation is completely different. The mainstream media got it wrong because they have no idea what actually happened. The key point is that Arnold deceived the fans.”

O'Hara countered: “You don’t know what actually happened either. You don’t know what conversations Arnold had with Liverpool, what discussions he had with his family—you’re just guessing. Everyone is guessing. You can analyze it, but you don’t know what offer Real Madrid made to Arnold, nor the content of the negotiations between Arnold and Liverpool.”

Reds fan Peter Bolster retorted: “But we ultimately got a transfer fee, so Arnold didn’t leave as a free agent.”

O'Hara responded: “Yes, £5 million, just to let Arnold play in the Club World Cup. I just think Liverpool fans’ actions are too harsh. I think Liverpool fans are great—you’re amazing supporters.

The way you treat players and support the team is impeccable.”

“I really can’t understand that kind of bad behavior. I think the scene of booing Arnold went too far.”