In the short term, Real Madrid’s focus will be on managing Alexander-Arnold’s recovery carefully. Manager Xabi Alonso offered an update on the defender ahead of the game. He told reporters: "He’s available, and he didn’t play the other day because of the circumstances of the match. We need him because he has tremendous quality. It’s a new stage for him, and we have to help him and give him what he needs to perform because he’s an exceptional player in this squad.”
For Alexander-Arnold, the challenge now is to regain his starting role and prove his worth in a squad stacked with elite talent. Once fully fit, the expectation remains that he will play a central role in Madrid’s ambitions to win both La Liga and the Champions League this season. Nonetheless, Tuesday’s match at Anfield will still be an emotional milestone even if he starts on the bench. Whether greeted with applause or jeers, Alexander-Arnold’s return will serve as a poignant reminder of his legacy at Liverpool