Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has dismissed the possibility of Trent Alexander-Arnold returning to Anfield following reports the defender could leave Real Madrid this summer
10:53, 27 Jan 2026Updated 10:53, 27 Jan 2026
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool cannot contemplate bringing Trent Alexander-Arnold back to Anfield following his troubled spell at Real Madrid, according to Danny Murphy. Alexander-Arnold has allegedly been informed by Real manager Alvaro Arbeloa that he doesn't feature in his future plans and is free to depart this summer.
The right-back has spent just half a campaign in the Spanish capital, yet matters have already gone awry. Alexander-Arnold controversially chose to abandon his childhood club for a new adventure with Real last year.
He arrived ahead of the Club World Cup last summer but has struggled with fitness issues during the 2025/26 season, featuring in merely 11 matches across all competitions. Arbeloa has recently deployed Fede Valverde in the right-back position and also has experienced defender Dani Carvajal available following his return from injury.
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Spanish media claims suggest Arbeloa has held discussions with Alexander-Arnold, clarifying that he doesn't form part of his future vision – though this assertion has subsequently faced contradiction. This development has raised the prospect of a Premier League comeback, but ex-Liverpool midfielder Murphy insists it cannot happen at Anfield.
"No. I think that would be a difficult one to sell to the fans," Murphy told BestBettingSites when asked if he'd be welcomed back to Liverpool. "Also, not many players go back to a former club and succeed. The succession plan has to be about moving forward and evolving the team. So no, I don't think that would work."
Despite the controversial circumstances surrounding his exit last year, Alexander-Arnold received a proper send-off from the Liverpool faithful following his 354th outing in May. "He deserved it. I am very happy for him and everyone in and around the club that things worked out the way they did," Arne Slot commented at the time.
"It went brilliant when our fans are together. How brilliant they were before the Tottenham game, during the Tottenham game and afterwards I don't think you see as many special celebrations as you saw four weeks ago.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, of Real Madrid,
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been struggling at Real Madrid(Image: David S. Bustamante/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
"I don't think you see many celebrations like we had them today. It's no surprise to me that they (the fans) were brilliant again today as they were throughout the whole season, as they were towards Trent."
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Alexander-Arnold is presently out of action with a thigh complaint that has come on the back of a hamstring issue, casting doubt not only over his situation at Real, but also his prospects of securing a spot in England's World Cup squad this summer. Thomas Tuchel omitted him from the November squad and he now faces a steep climb to make the cut, even should he regain fitness."
"It's my job now to make contact with everyone, players like Trent," Tuchel explained after selecting Alexander-Arnold's former Liverpool colleague Jarell Quansah in his place. "Players that are on our longlist, 55, 60 players, to reach out to them, be in touch with them, explain to them why they were not here.
"Explain to them what they have to do, where they can improve. Can they even do something or is it just a choice? So this is my job in the next weeks and months. ".