Trent Alexander-Arnold received a series of insults at Anfield and online for his performance against Manchester United, when a fan told him to fuck off with Real Madrid.
The Liverpool star has given 20 years of service to the club since joining aged six, but a rare day off in Sunday's 2-2 draw caused tensions to boil over.
Roy Keane slammed the England star for defending like a 'schoolboy' and then Arne Slot had to reject suggestions that his links with Real Madrid had affected his performance.
Alexander-Arnold gave the ball to Lisandro Martínez before United's first goal and was substituted late having not won a duel.
Mail Sport's Lewis Steele heard one fan shout “if you don't want to be here, Trent, fuck off” after Martinez's 52nd-minute goal.
Another posted a video of the right-back taking a seat after coming off and wrote: “Some fans around me made their feelings clear to Trent. One said 'fuck you out of here' – I don't agree with that personally but Trent he must make sure he doesn't come off as stinky when there's too much noise about his departure. He looked like a troubled soul in the dock.
Trent Alexander-Arnold received a barrage of criticism from Liverpool fans for his performance in the 2-2 draw against Manchester United, with one saying he should “fuck off” to Real Madrid.
The Liverpool vice-captain did not have his best game and many fans pounced on him, despite his years of excellent service.
Arne Slot denied suggestions that the defender had been distracted by interest from Real Madrid
Many Liverpool fans would say that Alexander-Arnold has had a good season, in which he recorded five assists, returned to the England team and improved the defensive side of his game.
Mail Sport's James Sharpe wrote an analysis of how the star, while still Liverpool's creator-in-chief, is playing more cautiously with Slot.
But fans expressed their anger at the local lad on social media after the game.
—Today his head was somewhere else. If you want to go, you have to say so,” said one.
“The truth is that Alex Arnold was impressive throughout the game,” wrote another.
“His body and soul are already at Real Madrid,” commented another.
Others jumped to his support. One said: “Comments like these are the reason players start to have trust issues.” Put yourself in their place.
'It's not as simple as just accepting a contract. Regardless of its current form. I support Trent. “The joy he has brought us all and the memories he has created will never be forgotten.”
Real Madrid made a £20m bid for Alexander-Arnold last week but it was rejected
Roy Keane joked he would be better off going to Tranmere Rovers after 'childish' defending
Another wrote: 'Trent was very poor today but you'd think he'd been making an impact all season with some of these comments. “And his contractual situation is not ideal, but some of what is said about him, and also among our own fans, is very unfair.”
After a difficult first half, Keane criticized Alexander-Arnold on Sky Sports: “It's too easy, just a couple of balls up. Trent's defense is like a schoolboy thing, talking about going to Real Madrid, and after this will go to Tranmere Rovers.
But coach Slot was eager to defend one of his prized stars, whose contract expires at the end of June.
'I think nine out of 10 people will tell you it affected them. I am (the) one of the 10 who tells you that I don't think that affected him.
“What affected him is that he had to play against Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, two starters from Portugal, great, great players.
“If these players prepare for a game, and that's what United do from time to time, then it's very difficult to play against them.
“I think it's harder for Trent to deal with that than the rumors that were going on during the week.”
Liverpool, which regained a six-point lead over second-placed Arsenal with a game in hand, fought back from Martinez's opener to take the lead with a Cody Gakpo goal and a Mohamed Salah penalty before Amad Diallo equalized the things. Much of the post-match discussion focused on Liverpool's homegrown talent.
Jamie Carragher suggested Alexander-Arnold and his team would have been aware of Real Madrid's bid this week as their poor performance led to Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Man United.
Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge confronted Carragher over the defender after the match
Jamie Carragher and Daniel Sturridge clashed in the studio over the star's signing saga with Madrid.
Jamie Carragher suggested the player's representative may have invited Madrid's ill-timed £20m offer last week, while former Reds striker Daniel Sturridge disagreed.
“They would have known what was happening,” Carragher said, referring to Alexander-Arnold's representatives.
“I'm not so naive as to think that Real Madrid would have made an offer in January for a player they can get for free in four months.”
He added: “Do you really think that when this offer comes in they sit at home and watch it on Sky Sports and say 'wow!'”
Sturridge insisted that off-field issues would not affect his friend's performance on the field.
“He's a professional guy,” the former forward said. “It's not his character not to concentrate on the game: Trent can defend better, but there were times when he didn't have help either.”
In any case, everyone loses. Everyone involved in the football club should want him to stay. The club knows that Trent's contract is running out.
Lisandro Martínez took advantage of Alexander-Arnold's misplaced pass and scored the first goal.
'He has six months left on his contract. None of the three should be in this situation. We are not aware of contracts being offered and rejected. Jurgen's departure was a problem for everyone.
“Leaving these three players in a situation like this.”