Xabi Alonso has insisted Trent Alexander-Arnold was ready for the hostile reception he received on his first return to Anfield with Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool in the summer
12:04, 05 Nov 2025
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid speaks to coach Xabi Alonso before entering the field as a substitute during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
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Trent Alexander-Arnold speaks to Xabi Alonso before entering the field as a substitute during the Champions League match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso has maintained that Trent Alexander-Arnold was prepared for the hostile welcome he faced on his first return to Anfield with Real Madrid following his summer departure from Liverpool.
Alexander-Arnold was met with boos from the home supporters during the warm-up and when he entered the pitch for the closing nine minutes of the Reds' 1-0 Champions League victory on Tuesday night.
The England defender, whose mural close to the ground was vandalised earlier that day, then endured jeers with every touch from a vociferous home crowd before receiving similar treatment when departing after the final whistle.
When questioned about his decision to introduce Alexander-Arnold, Alonso explained: "It was an intense game, and we know the atmosphere in Anfield on a Champions League night in a European 'Clasico'. We needed his quality and we needed his threat from the wing.
"[His reception] could be expected. He is professional and mature. He was ready for that, no problem."
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(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Alexis Mac Allister netted the decisive goal just after the hour mark, nodding home a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick following Jude Bellingham's booking for fouling Ryan Gravenberch, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Alonso reflected: "At half-time we said we needed to be in the game to have an opportunity but then we conceded a lot of fouls and Thibaut Courtois wasn't able to save that header from the set-piece. Thibaut, though, was fantastic.
"But we have to understand we can't commit so many fouls as the game could get away from us like it did today."
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When quizzed about whether Real had appeared to lack intensity and energy against a lively Liverpool side, Alonso responded: "I don't have those feelings. We competed well, Szoboszlai had an opportunity in the first half and Thibaut made a great save but we played at a high rhythm.
"What we were lacking today was perhaps to hurt them in the final third and be a real threat. In the second half it was just about the small details that fell in their favour."
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Alonso continued: "It was a bit difficult for us today. I'm not going to complain about my team, we gave it a good go.
"It was difficult for us. In our one-on-ones we weren't able to cause problems. We leave with a bitter taste in the mouth but we have to analyse what we did today. We have to learn from these defeats."