Liverpool news: Alexander Isak fears grow as Jamie Carragher says 'I told you so'

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Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to Anfield as Liverpool host Real Madrid in the Champions League . The battle of the European behemoths on Tuesday is the second season in a row the two clubs will have clashed.

It was the Reds who ran out 2-0 winners last season thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo in what was the Premier League giants' first win over the Spanish side since 2009.

Arne Slot 's side will enter the match off the back of a much-needed win this past weekend against Aston Villa , which put an end to their four-match losing streak in the league. They will, however, take on a Madrid side who've won their last six games across all competitions.

The Anfield crowd will no doubt have added motivation to have the stadium rocking due to Alexander-Arnold making his first appearance against his former team since leaving for Spain this past summer .

With the Englishman's return set to add to an already spicy rivalry between the two clubs, Mirror Football delves into the latest news from the reigning Premier League champions, including fears surrounding Alexander Isak, Jamie Carragher's opinion on two of the club's summer signings, and Virgil van Dijk's verdict on Alexander-Arnold's return.

It hasn't been an ideal start to Alexander Isak's Anfield career following his British record £125million transfer from Newcastle United. With just one goal to his name in eight appearances, the Swede has struggled to stay fit and has been out of action since injuring his groin in Liverpool's 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Having missed the last three games across all competitions, it's been revealed the 26-year-old has missed training ahead of the blockbuster clash against Madrid tonight, heightening concerns about his fitness. With Hugo Ekitike expected to lead the line again in the absence of Isak, Slot admitted the striker's fitness issues are due to his lack of pre-season.

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Speaking prior to his side's win against Aston Villa , the Dutchman said: "Let me use Alex as an example, he had to do his pre-season inside the season and people can then argue, 'Why do you play him?' But if I don't play him, I don't have him available and we need to have him available, because otherwise I have to play Hugo every single game.

"And I was just with Owen Hargreaves when he made the comparison between the two of them and he showed that one played 34 games last season, the other one 34 – and we play 60 over here. So, that's why I need to get Alex as soon as I can into playing as many games as he can."

Prior to the Swede's signing, which came over a month after the Frenchman's arrival, Carragher had made clear that he wouldn't spend £125m on Isak given they already had Ekitike at their disposal. With Isak struggling for fitness and Slot's preference for playing one striker, the duo have started just one game this season together.

With almost three months of the season already gone, Carragher voiced his opinion on the duo, admitting the Liverpool of old wouldn't have signed both players. He made his thoughts clear following an X post that read: "Liverpool of the past only sign Ekitike, not Isak.

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"He profiles as someone who can become as good as Isak whilst being a similar profile for half the price, except maybe that has happened quicker than expected. Causes selection issues with two special #9's at Slot's disposal..."

The Reds legend responded to the post, writing: "My point all summer!" While Isak has struggled in the eight games he's played for the club, Ekitike has flourished with six goals in 14 appearances, while his link-up play and versatility has seen him subject to plaudits.

With Alexander-Arnold returning to Anfield for the first time since leaving the Reds for Madrid this past summer, much has been made of his possible inclusion in Tuesday's clash. He's yet to feature in a match since his return from a hamstring injury late last month but with Dani Carjaval absent due to a knee issue, his on-pitch return looks likely.

It was Van Dijk who was alongside Slot in Liverpool's pre-match press conference, and he discussed the return of his former team-mate. The Reds skipper said: "Let's see [what the reception is]. I'm not going to say [I want a hostile atmosphere]. I'm not going to comment on that.

"Do you (the press) want it to be hostile? I think he's been outstanding in his time in Liverpool and that's the only thing I can say. Have I spoke to him since the move? Not much, no. Nothing personal whatsoever, obviously I live my life and he lives his life in Madrid."

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Van Dijk showered praise on the Englishman for the service he gave the club but made sure to insist he's now an opponent and urged his team-mates to make his return to Merseyside "difficult". "I think Trent is a quality player," he added.

"He showed it so many times, he's a very gifted player and he was important for us over all those years . I was very happy to have him in my team. We have been very successful, but now he's an opponent on Tuesday. If he plays then we have to make it very difficult for him to do what he's good at."