Ex-Liverpool star’s emotional Anfield return with Madrid

November 4, 2025 Oliver Obel

When Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off less than ten minutes into Real Madrid’s Champions League opener against Marseille, speculation lit up social media. Some fans questioned the timing — was the England defender avoiding a reunion with Liverpool, the club he left just months earlier?

Madrid confirmed soon after that he had suffered a hamstring injury. The response was divided: sympathy from some, amusement from others. On Merseyside, a few supporters joked that “it couldn’t have happened to a nicer lad,” a reminder that emotions around his departure still run high.

Now, fully fit and included in Xabi Alonso’s squad for Tuesday, November 5, Alexander-Arnold is preparing for an emotional return to Anfield.

Settling in Under Alonso

Alonso has spoken candidly about the challenges of rebuilding a side still finding its rhythm after Carlo Ancelotti’s exit. The Madrid coach viewed the early defeats at the Club World Cup as part of that transition, pointing to limited preparation time and a squad still learning his system.

From the outset, Alonso placed trust in Alexander-Arnold. The right-back started Madrid’s first five games of the tournament, displaying his trademark range of passing but also exposing defensive vulnerabilities. When muscle discomfort ruled him out before the semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Federico Valverde filled in and kept the position through Madrid’s shaky run of form.

Competing for His Place

Back in La Liga, Alexander-Arnold started the opener against Osasuna and showed flashes of quality, though Spanish outlets noted he was still adapting to Alonso’s tactical structure. Soon after, Dani Carvajal returned from injury, leading to a rotation between the two. By the time Alexander-Arnold picked up another knock in Europe, he had registered just five appearances and no goal contributions.

Carvajal’s leadership and deep understanding of Madridismo kept him central to the squad until a knee injury in late October ruled him out for months. That could have reopened the door for Alexander-Arnold, but Valverde’s consistency at right-back has continued to impress Alonso.

Even so, the Madrid manager remains patient, saying, “After the injury he had, we need his qualities. He’s in a new stage — physically and mentally. He’s an exceptional player.”

Adapting Beyond the Pitch

Off the field, Alexander-Arnold has worked hard to settle into life in Spain. According to Prime Video, he takes several hours of Spanish lessons each week and is already comfortable holding short interviews in the language. He’s grown close to Jude Bellingham and enjoys Madrid’s lifestyle — the sunshine, the food, and the challenge of a new footballing culture.

Club sources told Sky Sports that the staff believe he will thrive once he fully adjusts to Alonso’s demands.

Back at Anfield

Liverpool supporters are preparing for a mix of nostalgia and rivalry when Madrid visit Anfield. Many still view Alexander-Arnold as a homegrown success story, though his decision to leave remains divisive.

Virgil van Dijk summed up the sentiment this week: “He’s a quality player, but now he’s an opponent. We’ll make it difficult for him.”

For Alexander-Arnold, the match offers both a reckoning and a chance at redemption. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, every touch will be under the microscope.

A confident display could quiet the doubts and mark the real beginning of his Madrid career — but a quiet night might only deepen the question that still lingers: did he leave Liverpool too soon?

Sources: Reuters, BBC Sport, Sky Sports, Marca, AS, Prime Video.