Trent Alexander-Arnold is set for return to Anfield and a reunion with his former teammates and manager, but it won’t be the emotional homecoming many Liverpool fans would have hoped for.
Liverpool now know their route through the Champions League group stage as Arne Slot’s side set their sights on a seventh European crown.
The Reds will once again lock horns with Real Madrid, and it comes with the added twist that Trent Alexander-Arnold will return to Anfield as a Real Madrid player, just a few months after leaving his boyhood club in the summer transfer window.
For Liverpool fans, the prospect of seeing Alexander-Arnold back at Anfield is unlikely to spark the warm nostalgia it might have once done. The England international’s exit was far from the emotional farewell many had hoped for.
After rising through the club’s academy and establishing himself as one of the world’s most talented right-backs, Alexander-Arnold became a symbol of Liverpool’s identity. He helped the Reds lift the Champions League, Premier League, and multiple domestic trophies, and his contributions both on and off the pitch were integral to the club’s modern success.
Yet the summer brought a bitter end to that story. His Liverpool contract expired, and no extension was agreed, paving the way for Real Madrid to act.
The Spanish giants reportedly paid an early £10 million transfer fee to secure the England international ahead of schedule in a move linked to registration deadlines for the Qatar Club World Cup.
While the move allowed him to settle in Madrid, it has left a section of Liverpool supporters frustrated, feeling that the club’s homegrown star was allowed to leave too easily and his legacy is tarnished.
The Champions League league stage draw has set up a fascinating campaign. Liverpool will face Real Madrid at Anfield, come up against summer signing Hugo Ekitike’s former club Eintracht Frankfurt and face PSV Eindhoven in a repeat of last season’s league stage meeting.
Games against Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Galatasaray, Marseille and Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag complete the fixtures, ensuring a mix of high-profile clashes and trips that will test the squad’s depth after spending spree of over £300 million this summer.
Liverpool fans will remember their previous encounter with Real Madrid in November, when the Reds ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Gakpo. That night at Anfield showcased the Reds at their fluent, attacking best, and expectations are high for another memorable European night. Adding to the intrigue is former midfielder Xabi Alonso, who returns to Anfield this time as Real Madrid’s manager,
Away trips will also provide challenges. Ekitike heads back to Frankfurt, while matches in France and Turkey, as well as a return to the San Siro, will test the squad in a packed schedule.
For Arne Slot, it is an opportunity to improve on last season’s European campaign, where Liverpool finished the group stage unbeaten but were eliminated in the Round of 16 on penalties to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Domestically, Liverpool will aim to defend their Premier League crown, but the Champions League offers a chance to make a statement in Europe. The Reds’ path through the league stage promises drama, intrigue, and high stakes from the very first match.
With Alexander-Arnold returning in enemy colours, summer signings facing their former clubs, and European heavyweights visiting Merseyside, the campaign promises to be a fascinating
Liverpool’s full Champions League fixtures
Real Madrid (H), Inter Milan (A), Atletico Madrid (H), Eintracht Frankfurt (A), PSV (H), Marseille (A), Qarabag (H), Galatasaray (A)
