Trent Alexander-Arnold punished by Real Madrid after breaking 'code of conduct'

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Alvaro Arbeloa selected Dani Carvajal at right-back for the league clash with rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday, with Alexander-Arnold reportedly omitted for disciplinary reasons

Trent Alexander-Arnold was left out of the Real Madrid line-up after reportedly arriving late to a training session earlier this week

Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold’s difficult week took a turn for the worse on Sunday, with the defender reportedly dropped from the Real Madrid side for disciplinary reasons.

Alexander-Arnold's exclusion from the line-up for the Madrid derby against Atletico came as a shock, given he has established himself in the side over recent weeks. The 27-year-old has started all of Real’s last four Champions League matches, and prior to last week’s win over Elche, had featured in five consecutive La Liga games.

But it was Dani Carvajal that Alvaro Arbeloa selected at right-back on Sunday, with Alexander-Arnold reportedly dropped after arriving late for a training session.

As per Spanish outlet Marca, Alexander-Arnold “arrived late to one of the final training sessions of the week”, with Arbeloa sending a “clear message with a decision focused on discipline and dressing room order.”

Marca adds that Arbeloa “respected the team's code of conduct and made the necessary decision to maintain order within the group.”

The update comes at the end of a week in which Thomas Tuchel opted to omit the ex-Red from his expanded 35-man England squad.

Tuchel chose to overlook Alexander-Arnold in his latest England squad(Image: Getty Images)

“I know it's a tough decision for Trent as it is for Ollie Watkins and Luke Shaw. These tough decisions come from the job,” said the Three Lions coach.

“It's a sporting decision. We stick with Tino Livramento, Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah who can all play at right full-back.

“It's a tough one, it's a big name, a huge talent and a big career, but I know what Trent can give us and have decided to stick with the players we have.”

Alexander-Arnold has established himself as Real's first-choice right-back in recent weeks.(Image: Getty Images)

Since his Anfield exit last summer, Alexander-Arnold has endured a mixed first season at Real, which has been impacted by two injury absences.

He has made 25 appearances for Los Blancos and earned praise for his performance in the Champions League double-header against Manchester City.

Alexander-Arnold’s return to the Real team in recent weeks has eased speculation surrounding a possible summer exit, with reports in Spain previously claiming Arbeloa has not been convinced by the Liverpool academy graduate.

He could come up against the Reds again this season, having played against his boyhood club in November’s Champions League encounter at Anfield.

Should the Reds beat Paris Saint-Germain and Real eliminate Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, the two European giants would meet again in the final four of the tournament.