Trent Alexander-Arnold has not made the starting XI for Real Madrid on his return to Anfield to face Liverpool.
The Reds’ former right-back has been named on the bench for Real Madrid but will not start, as his new team face Arne Slot‘s side in the league phase of the Champions League.
Despite usual captain and right-back Dani Carvajal being injured, it is not a surprise Alexander-Arnold is only a substitute given he didn’t feature in Madrid’s 4-0 win over Valencia at the weekend either.
The versatile Federico Valverde will play at right-back instead, like he did on Saturday at the Bernabeu while Alexander-Arnold watched from the bench.
Real Madrid: Courtois; Valverde, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni, Camavinga; Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr.; Mbappe
Substitutes: Lunin, Gonzalez, Endrick, Rodrygo, Alexander-Arnold, Gonzalo, Asencio, Ceballos, F. Garcia, Brahim, Mendy
LILLE, FRANCE - OCTOBER 02: Players of Real Madrid line up as Jonathan David of LOSC Lille (not pictured) takes a penlaty during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between LOSC Lille and Real Madrid C.F. at Stade Pierre Mauroy on October 02, 2024 in Lille, France. (Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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In front of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Valverde will start in defence alongside Eder Militao, Dean Huijsen and 22-year-old left-back Alvaro Carreras.
Madrid’s midfield consists of Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham, while Arda Guler, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe form the attack.
It is probably a wise move from manager Xabi Alonso to leave Alexander-Arnold on the bench.
The ex-Red’s presence alone is to heighten the atmosphere and if he were to have started, every touch would have been booed.
In addition, the 27-year-old is perhaps not fully match sharp, having not played since September 16 due to a hamstring injury.
He has been an unused substitute in their last two matches, wins over Barcelona and the aforementioned Valencia.
Liverpool lineup vs. Real Madrid
Giorgi Mamardashvili again starts behind a back four of Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson.
Fit again and having taken press conference duties pre-match, Ryan Gravenberch makes it back-to-back starts alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.
Wirtz is the only new face in the side from the win over Villa, replacing Cody Gakpo on the left to join Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike in attack.
That changes means Gakpo is one of the strongest options in reserve, with Federico Chiesa, Milos Kerkez and the returning Curtis Jones also on the bench.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike
Substitutes: Woodman, Misciur, Gomez, Kerkez, Endo, Jones, Chiesa, Gakpo, Ngumoha