Arnold's Return Sets Up a Champions League Clash: Real Madrid Headed for Anfield Showdown
28 October 2025
Arnold's Return Status
A British sports report today outlines Trent Alexander-Arnold's fitness for Real Madrid as they prepare to visit Liverpool in the Champions League. Arnold left Liverpool in June after his contract expired and joined Real Madrid on a five-year deal.
The Champions League draw paired Real Madrid with Liverpool in the fourth group stage round, setting up a high-stakes reunion. Arnold suffered a hamstring injury in September during Real Madrid's opener against Olympique Marseille, leaving the pitch after just four minutes.
Since then, he has been recovering with Real Madrid, aiming to return to full training and playing time. He has missed several important fixtures for Madrid, including key derbies and a clash with Juventus.
According to the Daily Mail, Arnold is expected to be ready for the Liverpool clash in the Champions League. The game will take place on November 4 at Anfield, during the group-stage fixtures.
Real Madrid's left-back Dani Carvajal underwent knee surgery and is forecast to miss action until the start of the new year. This compounds Madrid's defensive concerns ahead of a tricky trip to England.
Heading into the match, Liverpool face a team showing signs of imbalance over recent weeks, with questions about their defensive and midfield structure under Jurgen Klopp. The absence of Arnold amplifies those concerns as the team rebuilds around fresh faces and new balance in wide areas.
Why has Liverpool lost some of its balance? Two main factors emerge: the team’s pressing effectiveness has waned, and the newer full-backs have changed the dynamics of build-up and width. The 2020-2021 dip for Klopp’s side, when they finished third after a spell of intense pressure, is recalled as a reminder that big changes need time to settle.
The new wing-backs, Milos Kerkez and Jerem Frimpong, bring different profiles and styles. Kerkez offers a more measured approach, while Frimpong is inclined to push higher and drive forward, sometimes at the expense of deeper structural balance. Arnold's absence has left a void in both balance and creative impetus.
Arnold was not a classic one-dimensional right-back. He developed into a creator who deployed precise long-range passes and became a crucial part of Real Madrid's build-up from the back, questions remaining about whether Liverpool can compensate for that unique skill. While Salah has struggled to click with the new forwards, Arnold's return could help realign Liverpool's attacking dynamics by restoring a reliable pivot in the final third.
The larger point is that Arnold’s departure removed a distinctive thread from Liverpool’s tactical fabric. As Klopp works to imprint his approach with new personnel, Liverpool could pay a price for losing a player who redefined the right-back role in modern football. The clash at Anfield represents not just a match, but a test of how quickly Liverpool can re-establish coherence with a changed set of tools.
