The mural of Alexander-Arnold was vandalized just before his return to face his former club Liverpool.

Right before the eagerly awaited Champions League clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s well-known mural near Anfield was heavily vandalized.

The incident took place on the very day the former Liverpool captain returned to his hometown wearing Real Madrid colors, adding tension to the pre-match atmosphere.

The mural, situated at Sybil Street corner and created by French graffiti artist Akse, shows Alexander-Arnold in a happy moment celebrating the 2019 Champions League win, along with his iconic phrase: "I’m just an ordinary boy from Liverpool, with a dream that has come true." However, the image is now covered with white paint and insulting words like "Adios El Rata" (Goodbye, rat) and other harsh remarks aimed at the former player.

This is the third time Alexander-Arnold’s mural has been defaced. Previously, in May—just before his last match for Liverpool—the word "Rat" was spray-painted over it and later restored. The first vandalism happened in 2022, when someone sprayed blue paint on it before the Merseyside derby against Everton, causing outrage among Liverpool supporters.

The mural was initiated by The Anfield Wrap magazine and podcast to celebrate Alexander-Arnold’s contributions, who was once the pride of the city both on the pitch and through charity work, especially the "Fans Supporting Foodbanks" campaign. But since he decided not to renew his contract and transferred to Real Madrid on a free transfer for £10 million last summer, many fans feel betrayed.

The mural of Trent Alexander-Arnold was vandalized before his return to face Liverpool.

When asked about possible reactions from the Anfield crowd, Alexander-Arnold stayed calm: "No matter how people react, my feelings for Liverpool will never change. I remain a fan of the club and am grateful for everything we achieved together. Those memories will stay with me forever."

Meanwhile, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said he had not been in touch with his former teammate and declined to comment on whether Alexander-Arnold should be booed by supporters. "He had a wonderful time at Liverpool, and that’s all I want to say," Van Dijk remarked.

Before kickoff, Alexander-Arnold also visited Anfield to lay flowers in memory of his late friend Diogo Jota—the unfortunate player who died in a July accident. His card read: "Diogo, my friend. You are always loved and will never be forgotten. Every time I remember you, I smile." Alongside the bouquet, he placed a red PlayStation controller inscribed with "Forever a champion 20. TAA."