Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed delight at welcoming back former Reds star Trent Alexander-Arnold for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League league phase clash against Real Madrid at Anfield, assuring the right-back of a warm reception despite his controversial summer departure. Alexander-Arnold, who spent two decades at Liverpool's academy and first team, announced in May his intention to leave as a free agent after his contract expired on June 30, prompting boos from frustrated fans during an Arsenal match that month. The 27-year-old Englishman ultimately joined Madrid on a six-year deal worth €10 million in an early release fee, allowing him to feature in the Club World Cup and marking the end of a trophy-laden era that included two Premier League titles and a 2019 Champions League triumph.
Slot, in his first season at the helm following Jürgen Klopp's exit, highlighted his fond memories of Alexander-Arnold both as a player and person, emphasising the affection he holds for the academy graduate who became a key architect of Liverpool's success. "I have great memories of the player and of the human being ... so he will get a warm welcome from me," Slot said during Monday's pre-match press conference. The Dutch coach acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the Anfield crowd's reaction, noting that fans had tempered their jeers after initial backlash, but stressed his personal stance of positivity. Alexander-Arnold himself has voiced lifelong love for Liverpool and mixed emotions about the return, preparing for any response while focusing on his new chapter under compatriot Xabi Alonso.
Real Madrid's Alonso, a former Liverpool midfielder and 2005 Champions League winner with the club, offered supportive words for his player's homecoming, drawing parallels to his own welcoming returns to Anfield. "He has to have his own feelings and enjoy it his own way ... For sure his history is different from mine; he was born and bred in Liverpool," Alonso reflected, recalling Alexander-Arnold's rise from the youth ranks to first-team stardom. The Spaniard confirmed discussions with the defender on handling such emotional fixtures, underscoring the unique bond Alexander-Arnold shares with the club where he debuted in 2016. Notably, Alexander-Arnold has been sidelined by a hamstring injury since mid-September, missing Madrid's last two outings, but is back in contention for a potential start or substitute role.
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The fixture revives a storied rivalry, with Madrid holding a dominant recent edge—winning seven of the last 11 competitive meetings, including a 5-2 aggregate in the 2022-23 last-16—but Liverpool edging a 2-0 victory in last season's group stage at Anfield. Both sides enter in strong continental form: Liverpool sits third in the league phase after a 5-1 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt and a 3-1 home win over Atlético Madrid, while Madrid, La Liga leaders, boast three straight victories, including a 1-0 upset of Juventus. However, Slot confirmed a blow with forward Alexander Isak ruled out due to a lingering groin issue sustained against Frankfurt two weeks ago, casting doubt on his availability for Sunday's Premier League showdown with Manchester City. "He’s definitely not starting on Sunday, but maybe he can be involved in the squad ... He’s still not training with the squad," Slot added, joining absentees Alisson Becker (hamstring) and Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring).
As Anfield prepares for a cauldron atmosphere under the lights, the emotional undercurrents of Alexander-Arnold's return add intrigue to what promises to be a tactical chess match between Slot's high-pressing Reds and Alonso's fluid Madrid attack, featuring Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, and Kylian Mbappé. With Liverpool chasing a first Champions League crown since 2019 and Madrid defending their 2024 title, this early-season encounter could foreshadow deeper playoff drama, blending personal narratives with high-stakes European football.
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