The former Liverpool hero reached the Champions League last-16 with Real Madrid on Wednesday evening
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid looks on 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 Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold could return to Anfield in the latter stages of the Champions League(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
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Liverpool's path to the latter stages of the Champions League and a potential reunion with former Anfield favourite Trent Alexander-Arnold is beginning to materialise. The Reds had already secured safe passage through to the last-16 in Europe after finishing third in the league phase.
They will face either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray in the next round, with confirmation of their route to the final due to be announced following the draw on Friday.
Alexander-Arnold's Real Madrid sealed their spot in the Champions League last-16 after defeating Jose Mourinho's Benfica 3-1 on aggregate on Wednesday evening, with Alexander-Arnold completing the full 90 minutes.
Should Liverpool draw the Turkish giants, the Reds could find themselves on a collision course with Madrid, with a potential showdown between the two sides in the semi-finals.
If Liverpool are drawn against Atletico, then the tantalising prospect of facing Los Blancos in the final in Budapest becomes a genuine possibility. Regardless of who Liverpool face, Alexander-Arnold could be set to line up against his former club once more this season, provided both sides battle through to at least the semi-finals.
Liverpool and Madrid have already crossed paths in this season's Champions League, with the Reds claiming a 1-0 victory at Anfield during the league phase. Alexander-Arnold perhaps never anticipated returning to his childhood club quite so swiftly after making the move to Madrid in the summer.
With the 27-year-old's exit from Anfield being contentious to say the least, the reception awaiting the right-back at Anfield back in November was perhaps entirely predictable.
The full-back started the evening on the bench for Madrid. Shortly after Liverpool had taken a 1-0 lead, the crowd was in full voice and they further made themselves heard when Alexander-Arnold came off the bench with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah
Trent Alexander-Arnold has faced issues during his first year at Real Madrid(Image: Visionhaus, Visionhaus/Getty Images)
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The England defender has been sharing the right-back position with Madrid stalwart Dani Carvajal and missed a significant portion of the La Liga season through injury. His introduction from the bench at Anfield came as little surprise.
The former Anfield favourite was largely met with boos as he eventually stepped onto the pitch. Supporters then made a point of chanting about club legend Steven Gerrard and Alexander-Arnold's successor at right-back, Conor Bradley, in a pointed dig at their former idol.
Upon departing Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold revealed that he sympathised with those supporters who struggled to understand his reasoning for leaving his boyhood club.
"I completely understand the feelings that go with that [leaving Liverpool] and I've felt it myself so I completely understand that the news will disappoint a lot of people, will anger people, it will make them upset," he said after making his decision to join Madrid.
Trent Alexander-Arnold following his return to Anfield with Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold following his return to Anfield with Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
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"Obviously that went into the decision as well – it's something you don't want to do, you don't want to ever have these moments where you feel like you're letting a lot of people down, you're disappointing a lot of people. But I've had to make a decision for me, it's as simple as that.
"I know the news will take a bit of time to set in and people won't be happy and they'll be disappointed. At the end of the day, you can be angry and hurt at me but I just hope that the lads, the rest of the team, the staff, everyone else is able to feel how good a season this has been."
The 15-time Champions League winners and six-time champions have clashed in two European Cup finals since 2018, with Madrid triumphing on both occasions.
It's highly probable that Liverpool will want to sidestep Madrid at any stage in this year's knock-out rounds given their recent history. However, the wheels appear to be in motion for a sensational reunion between Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool.
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