Trent Alexander-Arnold was given a torrid reception on his return to Anfield with Real Madrid and Arne Slot was quick to console the former Liverpool defender
Andy Dunn Chief Sports Writer and Neil Docking
12:12, 05 Nov 2025
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid shakes hands with Liverpool manager Arne Slot after a miserable return to Anfield
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Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid shakes hands with Liverpool manager Arne Slot after a miserable return to Anfield
Arne Slot branded Trent Alexander-Arnold a "special human being" after offering him a comforting embrace following the former Liverpool defender's hostile homecoming at Anfield.
Alexander-Arnold faced a chorus of boos when he entered as a late substitute for Real Madrid, with home fans jeering his every touch. The Kop gleefully chanted Conor Bradley's name after Alexis Mac Allister's second-half header secured a well-deserved victory for Arne Slot's men.
It culminated in a torturous evening for Alexander-Arnold, who struggled throughout his 14 minutes on the field. This prompted Slot to console the 27-year-old - who ran down his contract at the Merseyside giants and left the club for a minimal fee in the summer - with an embrace at the final whistle.
The Liverpool boss explained: "He [Alexander-Arnold] lost so that is tough. I said something like 'keep going' to him. I honestly didn't know exactly what I said to him.
"He has been special to this club, he has been special to me. And he is a special human being. So, for me to give him a hug is something I will do every single time I see him."
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However, Slot was equally eager to praise Conor Bradley, Alexander-Arnold's replacement at right-back, reports the Mirror.
Slot commented: "I told the players that Real Madrid had scored 26 goals in La Liga and between them, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior have had 24 goal contributions. So, I said, if you want any chance of winning, you have to defend well against those two ... and Conor Bradley did just that."
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Liverpool have now drawn level with Real Madrid in the Champions League table, boasting nine points from four games. The result was met with delight by Liverpool's captain, Virgil van Dijk, who, standing next to Wayne Rooney - a critic who recently questioned his leadership skills - took a swipe at the former England star while praising his team's performance.
The Reds' skipper stated: "Ex-players that played at the highest level had difficult moments as well. In a world of chaos, you have to stay calm and see the perspective of things. we had to be spot on in everything we did. I think we performed our game plan perfectly."