Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to be linked with a move back to Liverpool as finds himself out of favor at Real Madrid, although two former Reds can't agree on whether he should return
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 finds himself out of favor at Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
Two former Liverpool players are at odds over whether the club should bring Trent Alexander-Arnold back.
Speculation is growing over the right-back’s future as he continues to struggle to make an impact at Real Madrid. After injuries limited his playing time during his first season at the Bernabeu, Alexander-Arnold now finds himself firmly out of favor under returning manager Jose Mourinho.
He has made just one appearance in the club’s last four games, and even that was only a cameo in stoppage time against Barcelona. In fact, the 28-year-old has only made four starts for Real, while he has been left on the bench in six of Los Blancos’ 13 games so far.
That has led to rumors that he could look for a move away soon, with a return to Anfield having been touted by some pundits.
Gary Lineker and Jamie Carragher are among those to have talked up the possibility of Alexander-Arnold moving back to his boyhood club, and now former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has backed the idea.
“We're struggling at right-back...despite the performances of [Ronald] Araujo,” Heskey told BestBettingSites.
“I would love Trent to come back. Whether he would, I'm not sure. Obviously with Trent, it'll be about him and his people deciding whether they want to come back to Liverpool.
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid receives instructions from head coach Jose Mourinho during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano
Trent Alexander-Arnold has struggled to get into the Real Madrid team this season(Image: (Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images))
“I think he'd be welcomed back with open arms by the majority of Liverpool fans, to be honest with you.
“You will always get some who probably hold a bit of a grudge because of how he departed on the free transfer, ‘Well, we don't want him back, he did this.’ No, let's move on from there. Let’s think about what he did on the grass for Liverpool.”
However, not everyone is convinced, with the manner in which Alexander-Arnold left Merseyside last year being seen as a stumbling block. The England international let his contract run down and announced his departure before the end of the 2024/25 season, leading fans to boo him loudly in subsequent appearances.
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Kyle Walker has already suggested that might prevent Alexander-Arnold from heading back to Anfield. Former Reds fullback Glen Johnson also doesn’t want to see him return, but for a different reason.
“It’s not something that I would want to see because Trent hasn’t been the same since he left Liverpool,” Johnson told Betfred.
“He was obviously unbelievable at Liverpool and sometimes it’s best to leave it that way. I don’t think he’s the same player that he was because if he was, he’d be playing for Real Madrid and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
“I don’t think he’s the same and if he returned to Liverpool and people are expecting him to be the Trent of old and he’s not, then he could begin to undo his previous legacy. I wouldn’t like to see it and I’m pretty sure that the fans wouldn’t too.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold back at Anfield with Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold is being tipped to return to Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool.com says: It’s a really tricky one to judge, and it does feel like Alexander-Arnold is going to have a decision to make soon. You just can’t see how he’s going to convince Mourinho, having seemingly dropped down to third-choice right-back now.
Liverpool does indeed have issues at right-back, and as good as Araujo has been, it’s still not clear whether the club would want to make his move permanent. We all know about Alexander-Arnold’s quality, but after two frustrating years in Madrid, would he be the same player? And would he be able to patch things up with the supporters?
If the opportunity’s there, we’d be inclined to bring him back, but it’s certainly not an easy decision.