Trent Alexander-Arnold has been named among Real Madrid‘s 22-man squad to face Liverpool in the Champions League at Anfield, with four key absences for the visitors.

In a re-run of last year’s league phase match, the Liverpool host Real Madrid in the Champions League, but there is added importance to the clash this year.

While he may not start, Alexander-Arnold’s presence at Anfield will raise tensions as he returns for the first time since leaving at the expiration of his contract.

With captain Dani Carvajal injured, it means either Alexander-Arnold or the versatile Federico Valverde should start at right-back – the Uruguayan played there in Los Blancos’ 4-0 win over Valencia at the weekend.

The England international has had a slow start to his career in the Spanish capital after he was sidelined for six games due to a hamstring injury he sustained against Marseille in September.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Tuesday, February 11, 2025: Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé (L) celebrates after scoring the first equalising goal during the UEFA Champions League Knockout phase play-off 1st Leg match between Manchester City FC and Real Madrid CF at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Notably, Franco Mastantuono who played on the right wing for Madrid on Saturday, hasn’t travelled due to pubalgia (a sports hernia).

Also out are Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba, who have long-term hamstring and calf injuries respectively.

Madrid haven’t trained at Anfield ahead of the match, instead choosing to prepare at Valdebebas before flying to Merseyside on Monday afternoon.

Manager and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso revealed he made the decision so his side aren’t “surrounded by 200 cameras” hours before they lock horns with the Premier League champions.

Explaining his decision on Saturday, Alonso said: “It’s my decision because we have to prepare for the match and we prefer to do it at our training ground, in our own space, so that we’re not surrounded by 200 cameras.”

Real Madrid’s travelling squad to face Liverpool

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 17: Real Madrid players pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid CF and VfB Stuttgart at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 17, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Gonzalez

Defenders: Militao, Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Carreras, Garcia, Mendy, Huijsen

Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Guler, Ceballos

Forwards: Vinicius Jr, Endrick, Mbappe, Rodrygo, Gonzalo, Brahim

Madrid have won 10 out of 11 games in La Liga this season, with the only blemish on an otherwise perfect record coming when they lost 5-2 to neighbours Atletico Madrid in September.

They are also one of five teams that boast a 100 percent record in the Champions League‘s league phase, with three wins from three.