Real Madrid have returned to La Liga action this weekend after losing to Liverpool in the Champions League with a clear Trent Alexander-Arnold decision made
Trent Alexander-Arnold was benched for Real Madrid again
Trent Alexander-Arnold was benched for Real Madrid again (Image: (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images))
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Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has suffered another blow after losing on his return to Anfield with Real Madrid earlier this week. The 27-year-old left his boyhood club to join Los Blancos on a free transfer this past summer though a £10million fee was paid to Liverpool in order for him to feature in the Club World Cup.
Injury has resulted in Alexander-Arnold playing just 160 minutes of competitive football in this campaign with nine of those coming off the bench against Liverpool. Given the manner of his departure, it was perhaps no surprise he was booed heavily upon coming on with his misplaced passes being cheered as well.
Prior to his brief cameo, Alexander-Arnold had not played in over a month having been an unused substitute in Real's last two La Liga matches. He had also only started two games in the league since his summer switch.
Having trained for a number of weeks, Xabi Alonso was specifically asked if the full-back was able to feature from the start for the first time since late August with his response to that question a telling one.
"Yes, [Trent] is ready, he's been training for a few weeks," Alonso said in a press conference on Saturday. "Tomorrow you'll know if he starts or not. In the circumstances, [Valverde] has played there and done well. He's always ready to help the team. It's an option we have."
Alonso referencing Valverde in his answer certainly seemed to suggest he would remain in the role and that was exactly how things played out. For Sunday's clash against Rayo Vallecano, it was the Uruguay international in at right-back with Alexander-Arnold on the bench.
It is seemingly clear that the England international is currently behind Valverde in the pecking order. The clash was goalless at half-time with Alonso opting to make a defensive change, but that was Dean Huijsen being replaced by Eder Militao after the former was booked in the opening 45 minutes.
Alexander-Arnold did eventually come on in the 83rd minute after Valverde picked up an injury which could present him with a chance to get back into the team on a more permanent basis.
Real currently sit top of La Liga having dropped points in just two games, prior to their draw away at Vallecano, with it perhaps no surprise that minimal changes are being made by Alonso. The Spanish giants also had a 100 per cent winning record in the Champions League before rocking into Merseyside.
Liverpool dominated that clash and if anything, Alexander-Arnold's introduction in the 83rd minute actually hindered Real.
That was because the home supporters seemed to galvanise their team to get over the line and see out the victory with a second successive clean sheet also secured after Arne Slot's side beat Aston Villa the previous weekend.
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