In his latest column, John Aldridge looks at a big week for Liverpool with games against Real Madrid and Manchester City
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JULY 05: Trent Alexander-Arnold #12 of Real Madrid C.F. looks on during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-final match between Real Madrid CF and Borussia Dortmund at MetLife Stadium on July 05, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JULY 05: Trent Alexander-Arnold #12 of Real Madrid C.F. looks on during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-final match between Real Madrid CF and Borussia Dortmund at MetLife Stadium on July 05, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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Real Madrid are in town once again tonight in the Champions League. And this is an occasion that, at least before kick-off, will all be about one man.
I expect the reaction overall for the returning Trent Alexander-Arnold to be mixed. There will be some fans who will be at him all through the evening, while others will be mindful of the contribution he gave Liverpool during his time at the club.
Personally, I’d like to move on. He’s not a Liverpool player any more – he plays for Real Madrid. I’d rather we just worry about ourselves.
That said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with jeering him should he play. This is about doing whatever it takes to help Liverpool win what will be a tough game.
I’m reminded of the situation with Luis Suarez. He was an outstanding player for Liverpool and hugely popular with the fans, but when he returned with Barcelona in 2019 he was booed and whistled throughout.
It was nothing overly personal. It was just about fans wanting Liverpool to win and trying to put off one of the opponents’ best players. And should Suarez come back to Anfield to watch a game, I’m sure most supporters will welcome him with open arms.
I just hope the fans don’t take things too far with Trent. He was a great player for us and contributed hugely to our success during his time at the club.
And people shouldn’t forget he might well come back to play for the club again one day. We don’t want to shut that door in his face by going over the top needlessly with abuse.
I understand why some fans will never forgive him for leaving. I just hope we show the good side of a hostile welcome for him and all the Real Madrid players.
A draw wouldn’t be the end of the world for both teams, and we have some tough away games still to play at Inter Milan and Marseille.
I was lucky enough to score against Real Madrid both home and away when at Real Sociedad and we won at the Bernabeu, which gave me such a buzz. You always love beating Real Madrid.
Xabi Alonso is doing a great job there and the numbers Kylian Mbappe is delivering this season are outrageous. He is some player.
Liverpool will have to defend even better to beat Real Madrid. But we’ve done it before.
Arsenal title to lose
Is it already game over for Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes? I suspect that might be the case.
Unless there is a massive change at Arsenal – injuries and the like – then they are already too far ahead of probably everyone.
That seems a mad thing to say only 10 games in, but the Gunners are doing everything right. They are keeping clean sheets and just don’t look like they will ever get beat.
Arsenal could wobble massively again like they have in the past, but it’s a big ask for Liverpool to close the gap.
When you lose four league games before November, you’re always going to be up against it. We would have to go on a massive run of 10 successive wins or more, which is not impossible but very unlikely.
The title is now Arsenal’s to lose. Instead, we should concentrate on just continuing to improve, and Manchester City away on Sunday is one of the biggest tests you can get in England.
City have changed a lot in the last 18 months but what hasn’t is the impact of Erling Haaland, He’s scored something like 200% of their goals – it’s nuts. He’s unbelievable.
But City used to have goals from everywhere and they might struggle should Haaland pick up an injury.
Liverpool won’t face the same kind of long balls at the Etihad as with many other teams, but they will have to be wary of the searching passes over the top for Haaland. That’s what he thrives on.
City are still one of the best teams in the league but we showed last season we can win there.