Trent Alexander-Arnold says players can no longer ‘do their talking on the pitch’ because ‘the system is broken’ in powerful Black Lives Matter statement

Liverpool defender will wear a special edition pair of Black Lives Matter-themed boots for the Merseyside derby that will be auctioned off after the clash with Everton to raise money for the Nelson Mandela Foundation

Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke out on racial inequality ahead of the Merseyside derby in a powerful statement to claim “the system is broken”, with the Liverpool and England defender admitting it is no longer enough to ‘do your talking on the pitch’.

The Black Lives Matter movement has received considerable support from the Premier League during its first week back since the coronavirus-enforced suspension, with those three words replacing player names on the back of all shirts for the 12 matches being played through to Monday and teams choosing to take a knee at kick-off.

The Premier League itself expressed its support for the fight for racial equality, and confirmed that players who choose to make individual protests will not face any disciplinary action.

Twenty-one-year-old Alexander-Arnold is one of those that elected to speak out, though did so by releasing a powerful statement on social media to his 1.3m followers, alongside a picture of the special-edition boots that he will wear against Everton, before later auctioning them off to raise funds for the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

"’Do your talking on the pitch’. I've always loved that sentiment. But now we need to speak up in other ways as well,” Alexander-Arnold wrote on Twitter.

“Tonight my boots will carry the message Black Lives Matter. It can no longer just be our feet where we express ourselves. We have to use our profile, the platforms we have and the spotlight that shines on us to say, it's time for meaningful change.

“The system is broken, it's stacked against sections of our society and we all have a responsibility to fix it.

“Black people are viewed differently. We face discrimination in actions but also in thought. It's more than just violence and abuse. Opportunity in life is restricted if you look a certain way. How can that be in 2020?

“We are pre-judged on skin colour rather than character and personality. We then have to prove these misconceptions wrong! Why? Why is it my responsibility to correct an ignorant perception?

“Sadly - so many in the black community have to face this each and every day. But I also have hope. Hope that the world is awake in this moment. Finally willing to learn.

“So while we have this opportunity, where people are listening - let's speak, let's educate, let's campaign and let's promote the message that better education brings change.

“This is the moment of change. This is the moment to say enough is enough. This is the moment to make sure it stops now. Racism is fire that is now burnt out.”

Alexander-Arnold follows many black Premier League footballers who have utilised their platform to call for racial equality following the killing of George Floyd in the United States. A number of governing bodies have responded by accepting they need to do more to increase diversity and active inclusion among the black, asian and minority ethnic population, with a Premier League statement issued earlier this month stressing that “there is no room for racism anywhere”.

It added: "The Premier League stands alongside players, clubs, the FA, EFL, PFA, LMA, PGMOL and all those who oppose discrimination in any form.”