Trent Alexander-Arnold finally vindicated as new Real Madrid verdict emerges

Trent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool to sign for Real Madrid and he has struggled in the main, but a new verdict from Sergio Aguero shows the direction he is heading

Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid.(Image: Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Trent Alexander-Arnold has not had an easy time of things since he left Liverpool to sign for Real Madrid — primarily because of injuries — but Sergio Aguero says the tide is starting to turn.

Last week, Alexander-Arnold did well against Manchester City in the Champions League, with Federico Valverde's hat-trick giving Alvaro Arbeloa's men a commanding lead in that tie. While things have not gone as smoothly in La Liga, where Real Madrid is four points behind Barcelona, Aguero says things are heading in the right direction.

"Trent has had injury problems, but his quality has never been in doubt," the Argentine Premier League legend told Stake. "Now he’s back, and he’s done very well.

"He has a great right foot and is a fantastic provider of assists. Real Madrid has recovered a great player. Whatever happens in the Champions League, of course he can be a success.

"They’re fighting for La Liga and they have a squad full of great players. We’ll have to see how the injury situation develops because they’ve had many."

Alexander-Arnold is likely to start for Real Madrid later today against Manchester City, when he returns to English soil again. He has two assists in 19 games in Europe and La Liga combined so far.

Alexander-Anrold was up against Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku(Image: Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

In Spain, the media is notoriously difficult to impress. AS described Alexander-Arnold as the "weakest link" in the Real Madrid defense in the first game against Manchester City.

Fellow outlet Sport gave Alexander-Arnold a 6 out of 10 in its player ratings. It pointed out that he was "one of Madrid's key players in building attacks".

Finally, Marca was pleased to note his "truce" with Jeremy Doku and a strengthened defensive showing. Alexander-Arnold was acknowledged for becoming "more solid" after weathering the Manchester City winger's initial supremacy.

"Massive performance," Alexander-Arnold said. "A lot of the noise, when the draw was made and leading up to this game, especially with the way we have been playing and the results we have had.

"A lot of people expected us to get battered tonight. But it shows the mentality. It doesn't matter what injuries we have got or players out.

"This competition matters a lot to the club, and as players, we understand that. We go out there, and they support us like that, and anyone can win. We have executed the game plan perfectly.

"We had confidence coming into this game. We knew our game plan, we executed it, and scored our goals very ruthlessly. The size of the game is the main thing.

"I don't want to say that other games are less important, but when there is so much hype around a game and so many eyes on it, you know you have to perform. When you play for a club like this, the expectation is that you have to win."