Trent Alexander-Arnold could miss Real Madrid’s trip to Anfield in November after he was forced off less than five minutes into their Champions League clash against Marseille.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Champions League Debut Cut Short by Suspected Injury
Trent Alexander-Arnold was handed a place in Xabi Alonso’s starting XI on Tuesday night, just days after being left out of Real Madrid’s La Liga clash with Real Sociedad. For the 26-year-old, who has made only two league starts since arriving from Liverpool this summer, it was a major opportunity to stake his claim.
But just three minutes into the match at the Santiago Bernabéu, disaster struck. The England international appeared to pull up clutching his hamstring after a routine stride, leaving the pitch visibly emotional. He was quickly replaced by Dani Carvajal, cutting short what was supposed to be his breakthrough night in Europe with Los Blancos.
The incident immediately sparked reaction online, particularly among Liverpool supporters. Some joked about the timing of the injury with Madrid due to face the Reds at Anfield on November 4. “Looks like Trent is already planning to dodge the Anfield test,” one fan quipped. Another added: “Yeah, Trent was always going to miss the game at Anfield,” while a third wrote: “Trent’s excuse to dodge Anfield right there.”
As of now, Real Madrid have not confirmed the severity of the issue. If it is indeed a hamstring injury, the full-back could face an extended spell on the sidelines. Chelsea striker Liam Delap, for example, is ruled out until December with a similar problem, while Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina will miss the rest of 2025 after suffering a severe hamstring tear on international duty.
For Alexander-Arnold, the setback not only jeopardizes a potential reunion with Liverpool but also raises questions about his integration into Alonso’s system at Madrid. The club and its supporters now await medical updates anxiously, hoping the injury proves less serious than feared.
Alonso Hails Carvajal’s Leadership, Casting Doubt on Alexander-Arnold’s Starting Role
Speaking before the match, Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso underlined Dani Carvajal’s importance to his plans this season — a statement that inevitably raises questions about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s place in the pecking order.
“There’s one thing that hasn’t changed: his competitive gene,” Alonso said of Carvajal. “He came here in 2013–14 already with that mentality. Since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen, he’s been vital, and in that very first season he gave us so much, even helping us win the Champions League.”
Alonso went on to highlight how the veteran full-back’s influence has grown over the years. “That part hasn’t really changed, but his personality, maturity, and leadership have. What it means to be captain, his experience, the respect his teammates have for him, and the responsibility he feels toward the group — all of that has evolved.”
He concluded by stressing the wider impact Carvajal has within the dressing room: “He has a very positive influence on the rest. Leaders like him aren’t built — they flourish in the locker room, and for us they are fundamental.”
With Carvajal described as “fundamental,” the message is clear: Alexander-Arnold may face a tough battle to secure a regular starting role under Alonso this season.
