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England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to make his first return to Liverpool on Tuesday, donning the white of Real Madrid.
This adds an interesting twist to the highly anticipated Champions League match-up between the two European giants on Merseyside. All eyes will be on the new Los Blancos recruit as he navigates the electric atmosphere at Anfield; his mural near Anfield was defaced in the run-up to the game.
However, Alexander-Arnold isn't the first player to transition from Merseyside to Madrid. Indeed, the former Liverpool man is not even the first to have represented both clubs during their career. In fact, there are 10 others, as we delve into here...
Michael Owen
Perhaps the most notable player to switch between the clubs is former academy star Michael Owen.
The Englishman was one of the country's brightest talents during the late 1990s and early 2000s, securing the Premier League Golden Boot twice by the age of 19, and he remains the only Liverpool player to win the Ballon d'Or after outshining Madrid star Raul in 2001.
When the Spaniards came knocking in 2004, the Chester-born striker was enticed, eventually departing that summer in pursuit of European glory. Regrettably for Owen, it didn't pan out, with injuries proving a significant obstacle, while also vying with the legendary Raul and Ronaldo for forward positions.
He made just 45 appearances during his stint in the Spanish capital, netting 16 goals. Owen then returned to England, but following stints at Newcastle, Manchester United, and Stoke, he hung up his boots at the age of 33 in 2013.
Fabinho
Fabinho, best known for his stint in Merseyside, did have a brief sojourn on the Spanish coast while on loan from Portuguese team Rio Ave during the 2012-13 season. He only made one senior appearance for Madrid, and after a five-year tenure at Monaco, he was eventually snapped up by Liverpool in 2018 following an impressive spell in France.
Under Jurgen Klopp's guidance, the Brazilian played a pivotal role in securing both the Champions League and Premier League titles during a successful five-season run at Anfield. Fabinho bid farewell to Liverpool in the summer of 2023, signing with Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League.
Steve McManaman
McManaman, like Trent Alexander-Arnold, also made the tempting move to Madrid, but only after clinching the FA Cup and League Cup with the Reds.
The Scouser's switch proved more fruitful than Owen's in subsequent years, as the dynamic winger returned with two Champions Leagues and two La Ligas under his belt before he relocated back to England in 2003. After a four-year stint in Spain, McManaman joined Manchester City for a couple of seasons before hanging up his boots in 2005.
Fernando Morientes
Morientes, during his eight-year tenure at Real, netted 100 goals in 272 appearances, while also bagging La Liga twice and the Champions League thrice. Following an incredibly successful period in his homeland, the striker signed for Liverpool, but despite his form in Spain, his performances didn't translate well in England, with a mere 12 goals to his name during his 61 appearances on Merseyside.
After a two-season spell at the Kop, the Spaniard returned to his homeland, this time to Valencia, before making a move to Marseille in 2009.
Antonio Nunez
Between 2003 and 2005, Antonio Nunez completed his stints at both Madrid and Liverpool. The Spaniard only played one season for both sides and didn't exactly set the world on fire. As part of the deal between the two clubs for Owen, Nunez moved to Anfield, where he was a semi-regular and part of the 2005 Champions League-winning squad.
His only goal came in the League Cup final against Chelsea, which Rafa Benitez's side lost 3-2. He holds the unique record of being the only player in Liverpool's history to score their only goal in a cup final. After spells in Cyprus and back in Spain, he hung up his boots in 2018.
Alvaro Arbeloa
The Spanish full-back began his career in the youth ranks at Madrid, moving to Liverpool in the 2006-07 season after a brief stint at Deportivo La Coruna. During his time with the Reds, the reliable defender was a Premier League and Champions League runner-up, while also tasting victory with Spain's Euro 2008 triumph.
Arbeloa returned to Real in 2009, earning himself two Champions League titles, a La Liga title, and a Super Cup with the club he grew up with. He ended his career with a short stint at West Ham before retiring in the summer of 2017.
Xabi Alonso
Alonso, the silky midfielder, certainly made his mark at both clubs. He was a key player in Liverpool's legendary Champions League victory in Istanbul, scoring the penalty that levelled the game at 3-3. So, it's no wonder that the Kopites were devastated when he left.
While at Madrid, the Spaniard won a host of trophies, including the Champions League and La Liga, before making another significant move to Bayern Munich, the German giants. Under Pep Guardiola's management, Alonso clinched three Bundesliga titles in as many seasons, proving instrumental in the current Manchester City manager's midfield due to his exceptional vision and game-reading ability.
After hanging up his boots, Alonso turned to management, starting with Madrid's youth team before famously leading Bayer Leverkusen to Bundesliga glory. Now, Alonso is back at Madrid, but this time as the first-team manager.
Jerzy Dudek
The Polish goalkeeper spent the final four years of his career in Spain, serving as Iker Casillas' backup, but it's his time at Liverpool that cemented his status as an iconic goalkeeper. Dudek joined the Merseyside club in 2001, staying for six years after transferring from Dutch club Feyenoord. During his stint at Liverpool, he won the FA Cup and EFL Cup, but it's his Champions League heroics that will forever be etched in the minds of the Reds' faithful.
The 2005 final will forever be etched in history, particularly due to Dudek's phenomenal double save from AC Milan's Andriy Shevchenko at close range and his heroics during the penalty shootout.
Nicolas Anelka
Following his transfer from Arsenal to Madrid, French forward Nicolas Anelka struggled to leave a lasting impression in La Liga. He subsequently transferred to French heavyweights PSG before being loaned out to Liverpool for the latter half of the 2001-02 season, where he netted five goals in 20 appearances.
Despite this, manager Gerard Houllier was not convinced enough to retain him, although Anelka did return to England via Manchester City where he arguably played his best football. After stints at Juventus, West Brom and Bolton, he retired in 2016. However, it was at Chelsea where he enjoyed the most success, winning two FA Cups and a Premier League title.
Nuri Sahin
The transfer of Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin to Madrid in 2011 was hailed as one of the most thrilling moves of the window, following his accolade as Bundesliga Player of the Season the previous campaign.
However, due to injury, Sahin only made 12 appearances for the Spanish giants before moving to Liverpool on a five-month loan the subsequent season, where he also featured in just 12 matches. Between 2014 and 2018, he returned to Dortmund, where he had a much more significant impact, before finally hanging up his boots at Antalyaspor in Turkey.
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