Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has offered the club advice on the situation surrounding Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid CF looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid CF and FC Internazionale Milano at Berabeu stadium on September 08, 2026, in Madrid, Spain.
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid CF looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid CF and FC Internazionale Milano at Berabeu stadium on September 08, 2026, in Madrid, Spain.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s limited minutes at Real Madrid have kept his future in the headlines. Reports have linked the England international with a return to the Premier League.
Alexander-Arnold has played 345 minutes in seven appearances across all competitions this season and has one assist.
He has started only four of Real Madrid’s 13 matches in La Liga and the Champions League, and played the full 90 minutes just once, in a 4-0 league win over Malaga.
His latest appearance came in Sunday’s 2-1 Clasico win at Barcelona. Federico Valverde started at right-back and Denzel Dumfries replaced him after 62 minutes. Alexander-Arnold came on as a late substitute.
There are reports that Alexander-Arnold has no immediate intention of exploring a return to Liverpool and expects to keep fighting for his place in Madrid. There are also reports that Liverpool do not currently view him as a concrete transfer target.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague recently said that Alexander-Arnold has no intention of leaving Real Madrid. His contract at the Bernabeu runs until 2031.
Balague said Jose Mourinho has told the player to keep working and that his opportunities will come.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has now given his view.
Speaking on The Overlap’s Fan Debate, he said he believes Alexander-Arnold made “a big mistake” joining Real Madrid and would welcome him back at Anfield.
Carragher believes both player and club would be best served by a 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.
“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…
“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’s) creativity.”
Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool in June 2025 in a £10million deal, shortly before his contract was due to expire.
Muscular problems cost him a large part of last season, and Real Madrid signed Dumfries from Inter in the summer.
Liverpool supporter Gareth Roberts, who sat on the panel with Carragher, said a return would be “a tough one for the fans”.
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AFC Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott (8) during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Bournemouth at the London Stadium, London, UK on 21 February 2026.
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