
Anfield Index
·28 September 2025
Trent Alexander-Arnold Could be Set for Liverpool Return after Latest Update

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Yahoo sportsAnfield Index
·28 September 2025
Liverpool’s reunion with Trent Alexander-Arnold is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about storylines of the season. The right-back, who departed Anfield for Real Madrid at the end of the 2024–25 campaign, is racing against time to be fit for the Champions League clash between the two European giants in early November.
Alexander-Arnold’s move to Madrid last summer still divides opinion on Merseyside. He left his boyhood club as a Premier League champion under Arne Slot, yet many supporters felt betrayed by the way he allowed his contract to run down. Now, with both clubs again drawn together in Europe, the focus has shifted to whether he will be fit to face his former team at Anfield.
Photo: IMAGO
The 26-year-old’s start to life in Spain has been far from straightforward. After an early injury during the Club World Cup, he returned to Xabi Alonso’s side at the start of the La Liga season, only to be rotated out by club captain Dani Carvajal.
Just as Alexander-Arnold looked set to reclaim his place, he suffered another setback in the Champions League against Marseille on 16 September. Initial assessments suggested an eight-week recovery period, which would have ruled him out of Real Madrid’s visit to Anfield on 4 November.
However, the picture changed this weekend when Carvajal picked up a separate knock that is expected to keep him sidelined for around a month. According to TNT Sports, “Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to return from injury in time for Real Madrid’s trip to Anfield in November. The right-back will be sidelined for matches against Kairat Almaty, Villarreal, Juventus and Barcelona.”
Liverpool have adapted well under Slot, who guided the club to their first league title since 2020 in his debut season. Yet the team have struggled to replicate Alexander-Arnold’s unique influence at right-back.
Saturday’s defeat against Crystal Palace underlined the issue. Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong have rotated in the role but neither has yet matched the creativity, passing range and defensive anticipation that defined Alexander-Arnold’s years at Anfield. His absence is still felt acutely, particularly in games that demand pinpoint delivery and composure in possession.
The atmosphere at Anfield in November promises to be electric. Alexander-Arnold can expect a fiery reception from the home crowd, many of whom remain hurt by his departure. Yet there is also respect for a player who contributed nearly a decade of service and was instrumental in Liverpool’s Champions League and domestic successes.
From a footballing perspective, his presence could tilt the balance in what is already a finely poised tie. Liverpool supporters know all too well the damage he can inflict from set pieces and open play. Real Madrid will be eager to have him available, especially with Carvajal unlikely to reach full fitness before the showdown.
For Alexander-Arnold himself, this match offers a chance to remind English fans of his enduring quality and to show Madrid why they invested in him. Should he make it back in time, the narrative of a homegrown hero returning to Anfield in opposition colours will add another layer of intrigue to an already compelling encounter.
Langsung