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Posted on June 12, 2026 4:00 pm | Updated on June 12, 2026 10:51 am Trent Alexander-Arnold’s tough Real Madrid season fuels Liverpool return talk.
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It’s been a tough first season for Trent Alexander-Arnold at Real Madrid, and the latest Liverpool news suggests a return to England is far from straightforward for the 27-year-old.
A disappointing debut year in the Spanish capital
When Alexander-Arnold completed his move to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2025, expectations were high on both sides. He arrived as a two-time Premier League winner with Champions League experience and a strong track record in English football. Leaving Liverpool after letting his contract run down was a bold move.
Things didn’t pan out so smoothly in his first season in Spain. He managed just 21 La Liga appearances in 2025-26, as per transfermarkt. Early fitness problems threw off his rhythm, and he never quite settled once back in the side. Dani Carvajal’s form also made it tough to hold down a regular spot.
The Real Madrid fans have not yet been won over by the former Liverpool right-back, and as reported by BBC, missing out on Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup made a hard year even tougher.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 25/26 stats, as per FotMob:
Competition Appearances Tackles Interceptions Clean Sheets Duels Won%
La Liga 21 14 14 1 46.0%
UCL 9 16 6 1 48.8%
Danny Murphy rules out a Liverpool comeback for Trent Alexander-Arnold
Football circles are now asking whether Alexander-Arnold could return to the Premier League sooner than expected. As reported by Goal, Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy said: “I would be gobsmacked to see him back at Anfield,” citing two key reasons, the first being the mood among supporters.
Alexander-Arnold left The Reds without signing a new deal, and a section of the fan base took that personally. Murphy does not think those feelings have faded quickly. The second reason is financial. Real Madrid are paying Alexander-Arnold wages that very few clubs in world football could match. “I am not sure who is going to be paying him that in the Premier League at the moment,” Murphy noted.
That said, Murphy was also empathetic about how the player must be feeling. As reported by NetBEt, “He will have had the odd sleepless night about it,” he said. “When you go on any new adventure and it is not going perfectly well, you have moments where you think what have I done. That is normal and natural.” Murphy’s broader view is that Alexander-Arnold still has the quality and the time to turn things around, though the Anfield club appears to have moved on as well.
More obstacles waiting at Real Madrid
Even if Alexander-Arnold finds his best form again, Real Madrid have lined up a move for Denzel Dumfries, the Netherlands right-back set to leave Inter Milan this summer, as reported by The Athletic. His arrival would bring another strong rival into the mix, keeping the pressure on Alexander-Arnold to perform from the very first game.
There is also a managerial change on the horizon, with Jose Mourinho, who is now likely to be in charge at the Bernabeu. A new boss means a reshuffle of priorities, and there are no guarantees about where Alexander-Arnold fits into those plans. Carvajal’s exit does open a door for the Englishman, though with Alexander-Arnold tied to Real Madrid until 2031, the club still holds most of the cards.
Murphy’s honest take is that Alexander-Arnold will give it another season before drawing real conclusions about his future. “He is not old,” Murphy said, leaving open the idea that English football may welcome him back one day.
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Deepanjali Bhardwaj
Deepanjali Bhardwaj is a Sports Writer at Six Sports, covering both football and cricket with a focus on match developments, player performances, and key talking points across the two sports. Her work combines timely reporting with clear analysis, helping readers stay informed about major matches, tournaments, and emerging storylines in the football and cricket landscape. Through her coverage at Six Sports, Deepanjali contributes match reports, analytical pieces, and feature stories that highlight important moments, team strategies, and standout player performances across domestic and international competitions.
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