Trent Alexander-Arnold was quick to react after learning that he will be returning to Anfield with Real Madrid in the Champions League league phase after Los Blancos were drawn against Liverpool.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, left Liverpool for Real Madrid following the 2024/25 Premier League title-winning season.
In June, he was unveiled as a Real Madrid player after Los Blancos paid the Reds around £8.5million to end his contract early ahead of the Club World Cup.
The England international has since made seven competitive appearances for his new club, providing two assists.
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Upon his arrival in the Spanish capital, the Liverpudlian made it clear that part of the reason for his move was that he wanted “to win a lot of trophies and be a champion”.
And no club is more commonly associated with winning the Champions League than Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants having previously lifted the trophy on 15 separate occasions.
However, last season they were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Arsenal in the quarter-finals in what proved to be a trophyless campaign.
This time around, Madrid, now managed by Xabi Alonso, will face English opposition during the eight-match 36-team group phase.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will travel to the Santiago Bernabeu, while the La Liga outfit will face Liverpool at Anfield.
Of course, the sides met at Anfield during last season’s league phase, with the Reds winning 2-0 thanks to strikes from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo.
On that occasion, Trent was named in Liverpool’s squad but did not come off the bench.
It is still unclear exactly when Alexander-Arnold will return to his old club as dates for fixtures and kick-off times have yet to be announced.
Nonetheless, the 26-year-old was still quick to react and posted a graphic showing Real’s fixtures to his Instagram story just minutes after the draw.
Real Madrid and Liverpool 2025/26 Champions League league phase fixtures:
Liverpool: Real Madrid (h), Inter (a), Atlético (h), Frankfurt (a), PSV (h), Marseille (a), Qarabag (h), Galatasaray (a)
Real Madrid: Man City (h), Liverpool (a), Juventus (h), Benfica (a), Marseille (h), Olympiakos (a), Monaco (h), Kairat Almaty (a)
2025/26 Champions League league phase schedule:
Matchday 1: 16–18 September 2025
Matchday 2: 30 September–1 October 2025
Matchday 3: 21/22 October 2025
Matchday 4: 4/5 November 2025
Matchday 5: 25/26 November 2025
Matchday 6: 9/10 December 2025
Matchday 7: 20/21 January 2026
Matchday 8: 28 January 2026
Topics: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Champions League, Football, Xabi Alonso
Luke Davies