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Liverpool's summer recruit, Florian Wirtz, had a touching reunion with his former boss, Xabi Alonso, in the tunnel after the Reds' Champions League triumph over Real Madrid.
Alonso wasn't the only ex-Red making a return, as Trent Alexander-Arnold experienced a frosty welcome in his first match back at Anfield on Tuesday.
The Reds were aiming to maintain their momentum following last weekend's 2-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa. They managed to do so, with Alexis Mac Allister's goal in the 61st minute proving decisive against Arne Slot's side, who showed encouraging signs after a particularly challenging period. This victory propels Liverpool to sixth place in the Champions League league table, having won three and lost one of its first four matches.
It also marks the second time in two years that the team has bested Madrid in the tournament.
Tuesday's match saw several reunions, including summer signings Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong facing off against Alonso, their manager during a successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen.
Both Liverpool stars had the most successful periods of their careers under the Spaniard, clinching the Bundesliga title in 2023-24 and momentarily disrupting Bayern Munich's reign in Germany.
A video clip from Spanish media outlet El Desmarque reveals a touching moment in the tunnel post-match, where former teammates share a warm reunion. Alonso approaches both Wirtz and Frimpong, wrapping an arm around Wirtz in a friendly embrace as they engage in conversation.
The trio continues their chat for some time before Wirtz appears to present Alonso with a Liverpool shirt.
This interaction underscores the strong bond that exists between the current Liverpool player and his ex-manager, who took the time to catch up with his old stars despite his team's disappointing performance.
This comes amidst rumors that Alonso was eager for a summer reunion with Wirtz at Real Madrid. However, it was the Reds who triumphed in the transfer battle.
Since his transfer, Wirtz has had a challenging time making a significant impact this season, finding himself on the bench occasionally. Nevertheless, he was back in the starting lineup against Real Madrid, playing 88 minutes of the match.
But that wasn't the only reunion of the evening. Alexander-Arnold's return to Anfield following his summer transfer to Madrid was one of the game's major talking points.
The full-back, returning from injury, came onto the pitch for the final nine minutes of the game. He was met with boos when he was substituted on and couldn't assist his new team in overcoming Liverpool, with the Reds securing a crucial three points.
Slot's players are gearing up for another challenging match, as they prepare to take on Manchester City this Sunday. They're hoping to close the gap on league leader Arsenal before the international break.
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