Trent Alexander-Arnold faces Liverpool return with Real Madrid as Champions League draw revealed

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The Independent

·28 August 2025

Trent Alexander-Arnold faces Liverpool return with Real Madrid as Champions League draw revealed

Trent Alexander-Arnold faces the tantalising prospect of a first return to Anfield since his frosty exit after Real Madrid drew Liverpool in the league phase of the Champions League.

Alexander-Arnold, 26, departed his boyhood club after 20 years in June, a decision that was met with hostility from Reds fans. After announcing his intention to leave at the end of his contract, he was booed by his own supporters in his next appearance at Anfield, although he received a warmer reception on the final day of the season as Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy.

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He moved to Real Madrid for an early release transfer fee of £10m, with Los Blancos opting to splash the extra cash to secure his services in time for the Club World Cup.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold will return to Anfield with Real Madrid (PA Wire)

Alexander-Arnold surprised fans by speaking near-fluent Spanish at his unveiling, revealing that he had been learning the language for months. However, the Englishman has endured a difficult start to life in the Spanish capital and has already dropped out of the starting line-up in place of veteran Dani Carvajal, who recently returned from a long-term injury.

Having won two Premier League titles and a Champions League with Liverpool during a glittering spell, Alexander-Arnold will now square off against the club he grew up supporting.

Arne Slot’s side will also play host to Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan in the league phase, with long-distance trips to Turkish giants Galatasaray and Azerbaijan’s Qarabag in the docket. They have also been drawn to face Marseille, Frankfurt and PSV – the latter being the only side to beat Liverpool in last season’s league phase.

For their second Champions League season in the last three, Newcastle United are tasked with a blockbuster league phase, including clashes against Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. They’ll also face difficult assignments at Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille and Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise, as well as hosting PSV, Athletic Bilbao and Benfica.

Chelsea will take on Bayern Munich and Barcelona on their Champions League return. Enzo Maresca’s side will also face tough trips to Italy to face Atalanta and Scudetto champions Napoli, while renewing hostilities with Benfica, who took the Blues to extra time in a lightning-marred round-of-16 clash on their way to winning the Club World Cup. Ajax and Qarabag also await the Blues, as well as Champions League debutants Pafos from Cyprus.

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Chelsea won the Club World Cup in the summer (Reuters)

Manchester City will join Liverpool in facing Real Madrid once again, while also having tricky encounters against German sides Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. There is a reunion with Kevin De Bruyne on the cards as the Etihad plays host to Napoli. Pep Guardiola’s side will also play Galatasaray, Villarreal and Monaco, as well as last year’s Europa League semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt, of Norway.

Arsenal were paired with Bayern Munich and must also travel to Milan’s San Siro to take on last year’s beaten finalists, Inter. The Gunners face two stern Spanish tests against Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, and were notably spared what is the longest-ever Champions League away day in Kazakhstan, instead facing Kairat Almaty at home. To round off their fixture list, they will play Club Brugge, Olympiakos and Slavia Prague.

Europa League winners Tottenham will bid for Super Cup redemption against PSG after suffering a defeat on penalties to the current holders. Thomas Frank’s side are then pitted against Bundesliga duo Frankfurt and Dortmund, while hosting Villarreal, Copenhagen and Slavia Prague. As well as a trip to Monaco, they will return to the Arctic Circle to face Bodo/Glimt, who they beat in the last four on the way to continental glory last term.