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Trent Alexander-Arnold has stated that he will not celebrate at Anfield if he scores against his boyhood club, having left Merseyside behind for Real Madrid this past summer.
Alexander-Arnold opted to leave the Reds after his contract expired, joining Xabi Alonso's team and close friend Jude Bellingham. In an interview with Amazon Prime Video, he stated why he chose to make the move to the Spanish giants and when he made the decision to leave his hometown team.
It will be the first time that he faces Liverpool, and the second time in as many years that Real Madrid will come to Anfield after Arne Slot's team defeated them 2-0 in last year's Champions League group game.
Alexander-Arnold promised to not celebrate should he find the net at Anfield. He said: “If I was to score, then I wouldn’t celebrate. No."
Speaking to Prime Video Sport, he spoke of the reception that he will receive being unsure whether he will boo'd - which is to be the likely outcome when he steps out on to the field.
If that is to happen though, it will not deter Alexander-Arnold. He said: "Whatever way I’m received, is the decision of the fans. I’ll always love the club, I’ll always be a fan of the club.
"I’ll always be thankful for the opportunities and the things we achieved together… they’ll live with me forever. No matter what, my feeling won’t change towards Liverpool. I’ve got memories there that will last me a lifetime, and no matter how I'm received, that won’t change."
Alexander-Arnold grew up in Liverpool and joined the academy at the age of six, remaining for 21 years before he was tempted by Madrid.
He joined Bellingham as the second Englishman to join the club, admitting that conversations with him had played a part in his decision to leave Liverpool.
He said: “There was a lot of speculation… the ‘agent Jude’ stuff. It was more so in his first season (at Real Madrid)… we’d meet up at England camps and everyone would want to know what it was like behind the scenes (at Real Madrid)… he said it was incredible, and he’d never seen anything like it.
“The drive from the whole club, to win and the expectation to win. He talked so highly of the club, and I’d made my mind up at the end of the day, I needed a change for me. I wanted a new challenge on and off the pitch."
In the new Champions League format, teams are much more likely to face each other with the Reds facing Madrid less than a year ago.
After seeing the draw unfold, Alexander-Arnold revealed he received texts from his former teammates.
He said: "After the draw, Robbo, Mo and Ibou (Konate) all messaged me, we were just laughing. When the draw was announced, everyone knew it was going to happen, it was destined for that fixture to come. It will be a very difficult game, the reception and atmosphere will contribute to that.
"Although they (Liverpool) haven’t had the results of late, they’re still a top footballing team, and nobody here thinks it’s going to be an easy game."
English (US) ·