UCL: Alexander-Arnold returns to Anfield as Real Madrid battle Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold will make his highly anticipated return to Anfield on Tuesday when Real Madrid face Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League, marking his first appearance back since leaving his boyhood club last summer.
The England international, once hailed as “the Scouser in our team,” angered fans when he announced his departure at the end of his contract.
His decision drew heavy backlash, with supporters booing him during his final appearance in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal. Despite the bitterness, Alexander-Arnold’s role in Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League triumphs remains undeniable.
Real Madrid’s star back from injury
Now 27, Alexander-Arnold is set to feature for Madrid after recovering from a hamstring injury that delayed his start at the Bernabéu. The right-back’s return adds intrigue to a clash already steeped in European rivalry.
Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to Anfield for the first time after leaving last summer – Getty image
Although initially leaving on a free transfer, Real Madrid later paid £8.4 million to accelerate his move so he could feature in the Club World Cup.
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock believes the Anfield crowd will deliver a mixed reception, saying:
“I really hope he gets a good reception. He was an incredible servant to the club but wanted a new challenge. Still, some fans won’t forget how he left.”
Liverpool still feeling his absence
Alexander-Arnold’s departure has left a clear tactical void for Arne Slot, whose revamped Liverpool side has struggled to regain cohesion.
The Reds, third in the Premier League, recently halted a poor run with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa, but issues persist, particularly in attack.
Mohamed Salah’s form has dipped, with his once-prolific partnership with Alexander-Arnold no longer in play. The duo’s link-up was among the Premier League’s most lethal, with 147 line-breaking passes between them last season, the highest for any pair.
Slot’s challenge to rebuild the right flank
In Alexander-Arnold’s absence, Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong have struggled to fill the void, the latter hampered by recurring hamstring issues.
