Trent Alexander-Arnold update emerges as Marc Guehi explains transfer decision

Liverpool transfer news and gossip as Trent Alexander-Arnold remains absent from the Real Madrid squad, while Marc Guehi explains his choice of Manchester City over the Reds

Trent Alexander-Arnold's time at Real Madrid has not gone how he would have hoped(Image: Getty Images)

Trent Alexander-Arnold's spell at Real Madrid hasn't gone according to plan since leaving Liverpool.

As February draws near, the 27-year-old has featured in merely 11 matches across all competitions, with only six starts to his name. The right-back's inaugural campaign in Spain has been hampered by injury setbacks, having sustained two separate muscle injuries in just over a month. Against this backdrop of fitness concerns, questions are emerging about whether his Madrid stint could end prematurely.

Contradictory accounts from Spain have surfaced, with some sources suggesting boss Alvaro Arbeloa has recommended Alexander-Arnold to seek alternative options, while others maintain the England regular retains the Spanish manager's confidence.

Regardless, the speculation over his future has only compounded the misery at Anfield following the team's 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend.

Currently occupying sixth place in the Premier League table, Arne Slot's players face a serious challenge to secure Champions League football, especially considering Manchester United and Chelsea's recent upturn in form.

A challenging double-header against Newcastle and Manchester City, sandwiched around a European clash with Qarabag, could either spark or sink the Reds' disappointing season.

Marc Guehi has joined Manchester City, not Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

We analyze the most recent transfer news from Anfield, including insights from a previous target who revealed his reasons for rejecting a move to Merseyside.

Alexander-Arnold squad update

The England defender's most recent outing came on December 3 during a 3-0 triumph over Athletic Bilbao, where he recorded his only assist for his new club by creating the opener in Kylian Mbappe's brace. His involvement was curtailed after 55 minutes following a left quadricep problem.

After being sidelined for almost two months, he has returned to training with hopes of establishing himself at the Santiago Bernabeu, nearly eight months after his departure from Liverpool.

Initial assessments indicated Alexander-Arnold faced up to two months on the treatment table, and it appears he continues working towards complete match sharpness. Los Blancos travel to Portugal to meet Benfica on Wednesday for their concluding league phase fixture in the Champions League.

Tuesday's squad announcement for this week's fixture notably excluded Alexander-Arnold's name. While this probably doesn't indicate concerns about his long-term prospects at Real Madrid, it confirms the full-back remains short of first-team readiness.

Guehi explains snub

Marc Guehi came close to joining Liverpool on Deadline Day last summer, but the deal fell through. In a major blow to the reigning Premier League champions, Guehi completed a move to Manchester City last week.

Following his Citizens bow in their 2-0 triumph over Wolves last weekend, the 25-year-old revealed that John Stones and Phil Foden were pivotal in convincing him to join City this month.

"We've been talking for quite a while, and obviously talked with different clubs," he said. "I felt from conversations, through talking with some of the players here, that this was the place for me to improve, to get better, and just to help as much as possible.

"Phil and John, conversations with the manager, conversations with [director of football] Hugo [Viana], so it's been great."