Trent Alexander-Arnold’s difficult spell at Real Madrid could open the door to a return to Liverpool, but his form and fitness record may make the Reds reluctant to pay a significant fee for the England right-back.
The 28-year-old’s move from Liverpool to Real Madrid was met with widespread criticism from supporters, who felt one of the club’s own had decided his ambitions could only be fulfilled at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, his time with Los Blancos has not developed as expected. Alexander-Arnold has suffered five separate injuries since joining the Spanish giants, limiting his availability and his ability to establish himself in the team.
Since the start of the 2025/26 campaign, he has made 41 appearances in all competitions, but only 14 have lasted the full 90 minutes. He has started 31 matches, been substituted in 18 of those and come off the bench in the other 10.
That amounts to 2,526 minutes of football, a relatively minor contribution compared with some of Real Madrid’s leading players. Vinicius Junior, for example, has played 5,435 minutes during the same period.
Alexander-Arnold has also been left unused on the bench in five matches this season, including Real Madrid’s most recent game against Sevilla. In that fixture, Jose Mourinho selected midfielder Fede Valverde at right-back despite Alexander-Arnold being fit and available.
Reports following the match suggested the defender could begin seeking a route away from Real Madrid, with Liverpool understood to be his preferred destination. Liverpool have struggled to replace him, with Jeremie Frimpong rarely reaching the level expected since moving to Merseyside.
Numbers raise questions over a return
Alexander-Arnold’s statistics may explain why he has not forced his way into Real Madrid’s starting XI more regularly.
His passing was a major strength during his Liverpool career, but his completion rate at Real Madrid is 84.86% - better only than Thibaut Courtois, on 78.01%, and Gonzalo Garcia, on 81.9%.
His crossing figures are also underwhelming. Of the 115 crosses he has attempted since joining the club - the highest total among Real Madrid players in that period - only 25 have reached a team-mate.
Defensively, his tackle success rate of 69.05% appears respectable, but he has attempted only 42 tackles in total, roughly one per game. He has also recorded 39 clearances and 31 interceptions.
In one-on-one duels, he has won 72 and lost 73 from 145 attempts. His headed-duel record is similarly negative, with seven victories and eight defeats from 15 contests. His strongest defensive statistic is possession regained, which he has achieved on 107 occasions.
Those figures help explain why Thomas Tuchel did not include him in the squad for the World Cup in the USA earlier this year.
Liverpool, or any other potential buyer, would presumably expect a substantial reduction on his current estimated market value of about €60 million. Real Madrid paid €10m to sign him before his contract expired so he could feature in the Club World Cup.
A loan deal involving a similar fee in the January window could offer Alexander-Arnold an opportunity to rebuild his career elsewhere.