Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher wants Trent Alexander-Arnold back at Anfield and has praised Jeremy Jacquet's start under Andoni Iraola
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Jamie Carragher believes Trent Alexander-Arnold made "a big mistake" joining Real Madrid and would welcome the right-back returning to Liverpool.
And the Anfield legend has praised the impact of new centre-back Jeremy Jacquet in helping relieve the pressure on skipper Virgil van Dijk.
Alexander-Arnold has had a difficult time at Real Madrid following his contentious departure to the Bernabeu in June 2025 for a £10million fee shortly before his Liverpool contract expired.
The 28-year-old made only 22 starts last season and was left out of England's World Cup squad, and this term has been left on the bench for four of the last six games by Real boss Jose Mourinho and featured for just a handful of minutes in Sunday's 2-1 La Liga win at Barcelona.
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And Carragher, a one-time Liverpool right-back, believes both player and club would best served by an Anfield reunion.
"At the moment, he’s actually third choice right-back for Real Madrid," he said. "They’re playing a midfield player at right-back, so even in El Clasico, Denzel Dumfries, the first-choice right-back, comes on as a sub. So when you’re third choice at a club, they’re obviously wanting you to move on.
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"I’d have him back. I think he made a big mistake (leaving). But if something benefits Liverpool Football Club going forward, when you think of the problems Liverpool have in terms of the right-back...
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"Ronnie (Ronald Araujo) has been fantastic but we do have a problem in terms of full-backs passing. We’ve definitely missed his (Alexander-Arnold) creativity.”
Another Liverpool defender, Ibrahima Konate, also moved to Real Madrid in the summer, prompting £60million arrival Jacquet to be immediately elevated to first-choice centre-back alongside Van Dijk.
And Carragher believes the France international is already an upgrade on the departed Konate.
Brighton's Greek striker #19 Charalampos Kostoulas (L) vies with Liverpool's French defender #05 Jeremy Jacquet (R) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on October 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Currie / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Brighton's Greek striker #19 Charalampos Kostoulas (L) vies with Liverpool's French defender #05 Jeremy Jacquet (R) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on October 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Currie / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
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Charalampos Kostoulas (L) vies with Jeremy Jacquet (R) during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brighton at Anfield(Image: Paul Currie / AFP via Getty Images)
"It’s to do with Virgil’s age as well, but it almost feels like he’s the first centre-back who’s starting to look after Virgil a little bit rather than the other way around," he said, speaking on the latest episode of the Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet.
"And even though he’s only played eight games (in the Premier League), I already feel he’s an upgrade on everybody else Virgil’s played alongside.
"I know it’s early to say that, but he really does look the part, doesn’t he? And Virgil was always going to need that at some stage where he just has to play his own game.
"He can’t look after a back four. He can’t look after a centre-back partner. I think we’re at that stage now with Van Dijk, still playing well, but he should just be left to play his own game.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold right-back of Real Madrid and England during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 8, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold made a controversial move from Liverpool to Real Madrid (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)