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Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to take the pitch for Real Madrid against Valencia this weekend - bolstering his chances of making a return to Liverpool next month in the Champions League.
The full-back is poised to make his first start since September 16, having struggled to make a name for himself in the Spanish capital so far. The 27-year-old's previous outing was cut short after just five minutes against Marseille, leaving the field visibly upset.
However, with his recovery from a hamstring injury on track, he had been eyeing a return at Anfield next week. Surpassing expectations, Alexander-Arnold was named in Xabi Alonso's Madrid squad for the team's victory over Barcelona, although he wasn't called into action.
The Liverpool academy graduate watched as Federico Valverde and Dani Carvajal filled his position against Barcelona. Yet, Spanish reports assert there is "no doubt" he will be chosen to play against Valencia.
Alexander-Arnold had secured his spot in the Madrid starting XI before Los Blancos manager Alonso decided to utilize club captain Carvajal upon his return from a severe knee injury.
The defender's lack of game time cost him a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad in September.
With veteran defender Caravajal sustaining an injury in El Clasico, Alexander-Arnold now has a chance to secure a prolonged run. The La Liga leaders anticipate the Spaniard to be sidelined for at least six weeks and may not return until 2026.
"Following tests carried out on our captain, Dani Carvajal, by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a loose joint in his right knee," read a club statement released on Monday evening. "Carvajal will undergo arthroscopy."
It's the same knee that Carvajal injured in October 2024, rupturing two ligaments and a tendon, which led to him missing the rest of the season. Alexander-Arnold was signed just in time for the Club World Cup.
The summer recruit now has roughly two months to secure his spot under Alonso, with a challenging return to Liverpool providing an early examination. A potentially frosty reception awaits Alexander-Arnold at his old home ground on November 4.
The defender faced jeers from his own supporters after revealing his intentions to leave before the season's end. However, Alexander-Arnold received a warmer response during his final appearance, appearing visibly moved in post-match scenes on the pitch.
"It was one of the hardest decisions of my life. Liverpool is my home; it made me who I am. But Madrid felt like the right step, at the right time," Alexander-Arnold confessed to GQ Espana when questioned about his departure from Liverpool.
"It was ambition and a personal desire for change. To challenge myself in a new environment. Of course, Real Madrid's legacy is undeniable.
"But more than that, what attracted me was my ambition and the desire to test myself in new surroundings."
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