In November, Real Madrid will visit Anfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was sent off fewer than five minutes into Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Marseille, meaning he may miss the team’s November return to Anfield.
Days after the 26-year-old full-back was benched by Xabi Alonso for their La Liga match against Real Sociedad, he was given a spot in the starting lineup on Tuesday night.
Alexander-Arnold had a great opportunity to show Alonso how valuable he is after making only two starts in four La Liga games since signing from Liverpool this summer.
However, an emotional Trent scarcely broke stride and seemed to strain his hamstring after just three minutes at the Bernabeu. Dani Carvajal took his place shortly after.
As questions were raised over whether the England international will play against his old team on November 4, these were the reactions of some Liverpool supporters on social media.
https://x.com/WolfRMFC/status/1968029282489471107
“Looks like Trent is already planning to dodge the Anfield test,” one person commented, while another said, “Yeah Trent was always going to miss the game at Anfield.” A third said, “Trent’s excuse to dodge Anfield right there.” It is unclear if Trent has a hamstring injury, but if so, he could be out for a long time. For instance, Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina is expected to be out until the end of 2025 after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for Chelsea, and Liverpool striker Liam Delap will be out until December.
Before the game, Alonso stated that Carvajal was “fundamental” to his intentions for the season, casting doubt on Alexander-Arnold’s ability to start regularly.
“There’s one aspect that hasn’t changed much: the competitive gene he (Carvajal) has,” Alonso stated.
“He had it when he arrived in 2013–14. He was crucial ever since he came from Bayer Leverkusen, and he offered us a lot that first season, including winning the Champions League.
“Over the years, that hasn’t changed much, but his personality, maturity, influence; what it means to be a captain with his experience, as well as the respect his teammates have for him and what he has to transmit, that responsibility he has towards the group, is something that has evolved.”
“He has a very important positive influence on the rest,” Alonso continued. And those leaders that we must maintain—not create, but thrive in a locker room—are essential.”
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