Trent Alexander-Arnold left helpless as Real Madrid Champions League nightmare unfolds

While things were going smoothly for Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold's new team imploded in the most dramatic manner as Real Madrid faces a tough Champions League fate

Kylian Mbappe looks in aguish during Real Madrid's defeat to Benfica(Image: Getty Images)

There was nothing Trent Alexander-Arnold could do as he was forced to watch on while his Real Madrid teammates imploded in the Champions League on Wednesday.

While Liverpool cruised into the last-16 with a 6-0 victory over Qarabag, the Reds’ former vice-captain will have some work to do if he’s to join his old side.

Real fell to a 4-2 defeat to Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in the final round of fixtures in the league phase, with two players seeing red for the Spanish giant as it fell out of the top eight, while the Portuguese side secured a play-off spot in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Kylian Mbappe had looked to have put Madrid on course to join Liverpool in the last-16 when he put the visitors ahead on the half-hour mark in Lisbon, only for Andreas Schjelderup to equalize shortly after.

Benfica went on to stun Real thereafter, with Vangelis Pavlidis scoring from the penalty spot just before half-time before Schjelderup added another after the break to make it 3-1.

Mbappe pulled another goal back, but Alvaro Arbeloa’s side couldn’t find an equalizer, and without the injured Alexander-Arnold to call upon, Real lost their heads.

Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored in stoppage time to send his side through to the play-offs(Image: Getty Images)

Raul Asencio and Rodrygo were both sent off in stoppage time after picking up second yellow cards, meaning both will be suspended for the play-offs next month, with Madrid having dropped out of the top eight as a result of its defeat.

There was still more drama in store though, with Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scoring in the 98th minute, with the goal proving enough to secure a a spot in the play-offs at the expense of Marseille.

Real’s woes continue though following the firing of Xabi Alonso earlier this month. Things haven’t gone much better for his successor, with Arbeloa having already seen his side embarrassed in the Copa del Rey by second-tier side Albacete before yet more misery in Portugal.

There are plenty of questions over Alexander-Arnold’s future as well, with reports from Spain last week claiming that the former Liverpool star has been told to find a new club in the summer.

Those reports have been refuted elsewhere since, but it hasn’t been the start to life in the Spanish capital for the 27-year-old, who has spent much of the season so far out injured, and has not been assured of a place in the side when he has been fit.

Alexander-Arnold will hope he still has a part to play for Los Blancos this season, and he may well be needed as Real faces up to the play-offs for the second year running.