Will Trent Alexander-Arnold play against Liverpool for Real Madrid in the Champions League tonight?

The full-back is pushing to start after returning from injury

Trent Alexander-Arnold is back at Anfield tonight as Real Madrid face his boyhood club Liverpool in the Champions League.

Alexander-Arnold called time on his 20-year association with the Merseyside club last summer , joining Los Blancos ahead of the Club World Cup for £10million, and just a few months later, he is set for an emotional Anfield homecoming.

The early months of his dream move to Spain have been blighted by fitness isses so far, though. He has been limited to just five appearances this season as he struggles with a hamstring injury .

The issue first flared up in a Champions League outing against Marseille in September, and he has not played in any of Real’s nine matches since.

Alexander-Arnold was an unused substitute in October’s El Clasico and last weekend’s win over Valencia, and he has travelled with the Real Madrid squad for the match at Anfield.

Xabi Alonso has suggested he is fit enough to start, saying he could play ‘any number of minutes’ in tonight’s Champions League clash.

Sidelined: Trent Alexander-Arnold has not played since

AFP via Getty Images

“He is good. He didn’t play [against Valencia on Saturday] because of the context of the game but he is available for any number of minutes.

“[Today] he may play and after the injury he had we need his qualities; he has great qualities. He is in a new stage for him – sporting, physically and mentally. We need to give him what he needs because he is an exceptional player that we have in our squad.”

In spite of Alonso’s comments, Alexander-Arnold will not be likely to start against Liverpool, given the length of his absence and the nature of the fixture. He will be keen to avoid re-aggravating the player’s injury, meaning he will likely have to make do with an appearance off the bench.

His chances of starting at Anfield have been boosted by an injury to Dani Carvajal, who underwent knee surgery last week, but he faces a tougher task if he is to usurp Federico Valverde in the pecking order. The Uruguayan, a natural central midfielder, has deputised at full-back in recent weeks.

Regardless of whether Alexander-Arnold starts the match, Liverpool boss Arne Slot has promised him a warm welcome, saying: “I can only tell you what kind of reception he gets from me. I have great memories of the player and the human being.

“He was my vice-captain last season and I have memories of working with him which were only positive and have memories from watching him on television which were only positive as well – I can remember multiple great moments of his in a Liverpool shirt. He will get a warm welcome from me. Let’s first wait and see if he is on the pitch tomorrow.