Real Madrid signed Trent Alexander-Arnold as a free agent from Liverpool with a fresh setback dealt to his already challenging start to life in Spain
Trent Alexander-Arnold appeared to suffer an injury playing for Real Madrid on Wednesday evening
Trent Alexander-Arnold appeared to suffer an injury playing for Real Madrid on Wednesday evening
View 2 Images
Trent Alexander-Arnold's nightmare start at Real Madrid has just gotten worse with the defender taken off because of an injury in their La Liga clash against Athletic Club. The former Liverpool star was named in the starting XI by Xabi Alonso on Wednesday evening, but he was forced off in the 55th minute and replaced by Raul Asencio.
Prior to coming off, Alexander-Arnold provided the assist for Kylian Mbappe's first goal. The France international bagged another shortly after half-time with Eduardo Camavinga also on target before Alexander-Arnold was taken off with a potential injury.
It has not been the best few days for Alexander-Arnold with the England international brutally slammed in the fallout of Real's 1-1 draw against Girona. The whole team faced criticism for a poor display after also conceding three goals to Olympiacos earlier in the week, though Alexander-Arnold took the brunt of their anger.
Alfredo Relano, one of Spain's most well-known football journalists, blasted Alexander-Arnold for his display. He wrote: "Now that Trent is here, he seems like a clueless and insubstantial player, with the expression of a rabbit in the headlights.
"His quality at set pieces is masked by his right foot, but in open play he is non-existent." AS however, actually praised the dead ball aspect of his game as they wrote that that 'he is 'becoming the team's set-piece specialist under Xabi Alonso'.
Creating chances from those situations could now be difficult to do, though, with Alexander-Arnold appearing to suffer a muscular injury. Los Blancos are in domestic action again this weekend as they face Celta Vigo before hosting Manchester City for a big Champions League clash.
It has not been an easy first few months in the Spanish capital for Alexander-Arnold with a different injury seeing him miss several weeks.
His return match was against former club Liverpool at Anfield and he was booed heavily by the home supporters as Real lost 1-0 back in November.
(Image: (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images))
View 2 Images
Alonso has come to the support of his summer signing after a difficult opening period at his new club, with the Spaniard making it his importance to the team clear.
Ahead of the trip to Girona, he said: "Trent is a top player, and we need him.
"It's his first year, and this adjustment period is normal. He's also demanding of himself, and we have to support him through this significant change."
Liverpool looked to be coping fine with his absence after winning their first six league games, but major problems at right-back swiftly emerged.
Summer signing Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley have been plagued by injuries this season which has resulted in Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai being deployed in that position.
However, Slot looks to have found a solution with Joe Gomez starting at full-back in the weekend win over West Ham United and retaining his place for the midweek clash against Sunderland.