Paul Scholes column: I understand Liverpool boos for Trent Alexander-Arnold and there’s no way Man Utd should have Europa League parade

In his third exclusive column for TNT Sports, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes explains his thoughts on Liverpool fans booing Trent Alexander-Arnold. He also discusses a potential Manchester United Europa League parade and how long Ruben Amorim deserves to turn around his fortunes at the club. Scholes also looks back at his Goodison Park memories ahead of Everton men's final game there.

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Former England and Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes will be providing exclusive insight and analysis for TNT Sports for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign. In this week's column, he breaks down why he can understand Liverpool supporters' reaction towards Trent Alexander-Arnold and gives his thoughts on a potential Manchester United Europa League parade. Scholes also looks back at his memories of Goodison Park ahead of Everton men's final game at the ground against Southampton, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Sunday.

Why I understand boos for Trent

I didn’t expect the booing towards Trent Alexander-Arnold, but I think it’s difficult to understand what they’re [the fans] going through when you’re not a Liverpool fan or live around the city. I understood the reaction a bit because they think that Liverpool is the best in the world – just as I think Manchester United is the best. I understand it from that point of view.

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As a fan, of course, you’re going to be upset with him leaving. I try to compare it to when Cristiano Ronaldo or David Beckham left Old Trafford to join Real Madrid. I know it’s not a like-for-like comparison because David [was not a local lad but] joined United as a young player, and you felt that his time under Sir Alex Ferguson had come to an end and the time was right for him to leave.

With Cristiano, it was always his dream to play for Madrid, even before he joined us, and we managed to keep him for an extra year. I know it’s not a local lad leaving, but I’d wonder if it were myself, Gary [Neville], Phil [Neville], Ryan [Giggs], Nicky [Butt] who were in a similar situation, would there have been much uproar about it? I don’t know.

But I think Trent deserves a bit of credit for the way he has handled everything. Maybe the only mistake he made was to announce his decision before the end of the season. You see so many players nowadays who kick up a fuss to get out of a football club, and he hasn’t done that.

Some players refuse to play or go and see the manager to demand a transfer, but with Trent, he’s actually come to the end of his contract and simply wants something new.

Of course, that won’t sit well with Liverpool fans, but it’s his life, and he wants to go and play in Spain with his mate Jude Bellingham. But I can understand why Liverpool fans aren’t gracious with that, because they’ll see Liverpool as just as big as Real Madrid.

Ruben Amorim needs 3–4 years to rebuild Man Utd 'mess'

I think Ruben Amorim knew before he came to Manchester United that it was a bit of a messy job, and I think the biggest issue he’ll have is getting rid of players that he doesn’t want because of long contracts and big wages.

Along the way, he has to start winning games in the Premier League. I don’t remember Mikel Arteta having a run of games like this during his rebuild period at Arsenal with the club 15th or 16th in the league for a long period.

You might as well give the man three or four years and a project to get on with, and it might come good. He’s got so much mess to clean up from previous mistakes, so he probably shouldn’t be judged in the short term.

Highlights: Man Utd crush Athletic to march into final in style

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I agree with Man Utd about potential parade

There’s no way they should have a parade for winning the Europa League, absolutely no chance. I think it would be slightly embarrassing. I think the key is the prize of Champions League football next season with a better budget and [chance of] attracting players.

Of course, it would be brilliant to win the trophy - winning any trophy is great - but when it’s Manchester United and the Europa League, the idea of a parade is just a no-no.

Delap would be 'great' addition to Man Utd

United have been linked with signing him and I like Liam Delap. But he still needs one or two more strikers with him who have got some experience. We’ve been down this road with Rasmus Hojlund coming in as a young striker, and it hasn’t quite worked out so far.

Again, Delap could be another young striker going to a big club, and you just don’t know what to expect with the club not in a great place at the minute.

I always say that Manchester United should have three or four top strikers. Right now, they’ve got one who hasn’t really done it, so to sign Delap would be great, but he has to be part of two or three proper centre-forwards.

UEFA finals

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My Goodison Park memories

Everton was always a tricky game for us. I always thought that playing at home against a David Moyes team, who were so organised all the time, was so difficult. I always felt that we normally did very well at Goodison, although we lost a few times there.

I enjoyed playing there because we normally played quite well and won. I did have a few chances to score at Goodison, but for some reason, I never did. I don’t even think I scored for the reserves there, let alone a first-team game, so it was always a problem for me to score goals at the ground.

I think with Moyes’ team, when they went away they could afford to be organised, but when they played at home, they had to go for it a bit which maybe opened up more spaces and allowed us to play a bit better.

But they’ve got a great crowd. They’re very knowledgeable and the thing about Goodison that always sticks in my head is that they always let the players know when there’s an opposing player closing them down. There’s a massive roar from the crowd screaming "man on" or "turn" and it’s brilliant.

It was a really good place to play football, and that old-fashioned stadium is starting to fizzle out a little bit now, but its time has come to an end. I’m sure the Everton fans will be sad about it, but they also have to be excited that they’re heading somewhere new.

Paul Scholes competing with Tony Hibbert at Goodison Park in 2005.

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I know they’ve had their troubles in recent seasons, but they’re a Premier League club, all day long. With Moyes in charge, they’ll be fine for the next few years and see if they can progress up the table and challenge for trophies.

It was totally different to Anfield although they both had very loud atmospheres. But I never felt there was a problem with Everton fans. With the Liverpool supporters, you felt there was a nastiness to it because they hate us. Most teams hated us because we were winning all the time, but you never really felt hatred at Everton and maybe that’s because both teams didn’t like Liverpool.

But at the end of the day, you always felt there was a bit of respect there from the fans at Anfield and Goodison. Scousers are very emotional and passionate about their clubs, and they’ll give everything for those 90 minutes to try and put you off your game but at the end of the game, there was respect there.

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Thoughts?