Regardless of how much he plays, Tuesday's game will be dominated by Alexander-Arnold's presence. Naturally, the bulk of the pre-match questions towards the Liverpool camp have focused on the returning full-back.
“He was my vice-captain last season and I have memories of working with him which were only positive and have memories from watching him on television which were only positive as well," said Reds boss Arne Slot. "I can remember multiple great moments of his in a Liverpool shirt. He will get a warm welcome from me."
Virgil Van Dijk, perhaps unsurprisingly, was far more stern in his assessment of things, saying: "I haven’t spoken to him much since the move. It’s nothing personal, I live my life and he has his life in Madrid. I think he is a quality player, a gifted player, and he was important for us all those years. So I was happy to have him in my team, but now he’s an opponent. If he plays, we have to make it very difficult for him to do what he’s good at."
That sentiment probably encapsulates the general feeling among Liverpool fans as they prepare to 'greet' their former homegrown hero. Alexander-Arnold has avoided the spotlight since his move due to his injury issues, but now he will be thrust back into it, perhaps at the worst place possible.
Alexander-Arnold could, of course, silence the likely boos from the Kop with a virtuoso performance, the first of his Madrid career. However, given what's come before in his Blancos career, a low-profile cameo off the bench is likely all that can be expected of him right now.