For close to a decade, Trent Alexander-Arnold's name was written in permanent marker on any Liverpool team sheet. A year ago, he departed for Real Madrid under something of a cloud, and his departure was an under discussed reason why Arne Slot's side drastically declined.
Conor Bradley was supposed to be the heir to his right-back throne, but has not featured since rupturing his ACL in early January.
This leaves Jeremie Frimpong as Andoni Iraola's only natural right-back option, albeit Ronald Araújo could do a job there, and fair to say supporters were not impressed with the Dutch international's display against Newcastle on Sunday.
Liverpool fans react to Jeremie Frimpong vs Newcastle
I'm so ashamed that Frimpong is our RB😭😭😭😭
— Stunner (@Stunner_Lfc) August 24, 2026
Bro can't even cross pic.twitter.com/zNQNRlAsak
Trent John Alexander Arnold, let’s just pretend that everything that was never happened to begin with. Your mural is still up anyway. Come back home and play for YOUR club https://t.co/pTsxg5bjOD
— Who Is Gręgg🇿🇼? (@greggmunikwa) August 24, 2026
Wouldn't mind having Trent back... https://t.co/DGWV7L9zLj
— Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87) August 24, 2026
I would absolutely be trying to bring Trent back this week even if it was on loan. Minteh is amazing defensively so would help cover his flaws and going the other way he would have a field day with Barcola .
— Sean (@SeanDOlfc) August 23, 2026
During last weekend's chaotic 2-2 draw at St James' Park, Frimpong won just two of seven ground duels, conceded two fouls and lost possession no fewer than 17 times. The 25 year old looked vulnerable defensively, as he often does, but offered next to nothing forward too.
The fact that three different Liverpool fans are calling for for Alexander-Arnold to come back is not a ringing endorsement of Frimpong's popularity. Having been in attendance that day, the vociferous nature of the booing Trent received against Arsenal in May 2025 was like something you rarely seen from any player's own supporters. While he is being missed on Merseyside, the 27 year old isn't loving life in Madrid either.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's current status at Real Madrid
Real Madrid commenced their La Liga campaign with a last gasp 2-1 victory over Espanyol on Saturday night. This was the first match of José Mourinho's second stint in charge, making a big call before kick off, selecting new signing Denzel Dumfries at right-back, leaving the England international in reserve.
In an interview ahead of this match, Alexander-Arnold opened up about the abuse he received from Liverpool fans for the first time:
"Abuse online and threats made via social DMs or in other ways are a sad part of life in 2026... I can rationalise that by knowing it’s not representative of a football club I love and it’s not representative of my home city. "
"The booing and disappointment from Liverpool supporters is something I’m absolutely able to shoulder. I can understand it, in my own way. I heard a lot during that period that Liverpool fans didn’t want to be told how to feel or think, and I agree. But I hope one day there’ll be a degree of understanding about the decisions I wanted to make around my own life. "Trent Alexander-Arnold
He added that it "hurts because of how much I’ve put into the club over the course of 20 years" while, when asked how he feels about being labelled a rat: "if I'm honest, it's something that affects me and upsets me".
At the time of his departure, the strength of the reaction against Trent's decision to leave made it feels as though a return would be impossible.
Now though, not central to Mourinho's plans at the Bernabéu, with Liverpool still yet to properly replace him, who knows, this could suit everybody in the next 12 months or so.
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