Real Madrid News
Tension builds as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s mural is defaced ahead of Anfield return
It promises to be an emotional evening at Anfield as Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to the stadium he once called home, but this time wearing the white of Real Madrid.
The English right-back’s decision to leave Liverpool this past summer sent shockwaves among the fans.
After nearly two decades with the club, his refusal to renew his contract and subsequent move to Spain left many Reds supporters feeling betrayed.
Now, as he steps onto the pitch once again in front of the Kop, the question looms large – will he be welcomed or jeered?
There is a clue already
Nobody truly knows what kind of reception awaits him, but there have already been troubling signs.
Just ahead of the fixture, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk made some notably cold remarks about Alexander-Arnold’s return, hinting that emotions might still be raw within the dressing room.
Adding fuel to the fire, the mural dedicated to the right-back in the city, once a proud symbol of his legacy, was defaced, with the word “Rat” scrawled beneath it.
🚨 JUST IN: Trent's mural in Liverpool has been vandalized this morning. pic.twitter.com/abHoR3hqOA
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) November 4, 2025
It is a painful sight for a player who joined Liverpool’s academy in 2004 and went on to become one of the club’s most influential figures of the modern era.
His journey from a local teenager to a Champions League and Premier League winner made him an Anfield icon, which makes this return all the more emotionally charged.
TAA is charged and emotional
Speaking before the clash, Alexander-Arnold handled the situation with humility and respect.
“It’s happening so soon, mixed emotions, and I think it will be a very difficult game, but it’s one I’m excited for,” he said.
When asked about the possibility of scoring against his boyhood club, his response was heartfelt.
“Will I celebrate if I score vs Liverpool? If I were to score, I wouldn’t celebrate, to be honest. No,” he admitted.
Regardless of the reception he receives, it is bound to be a night filled with nostalgia, tension, and raw emotion, a reminder that football, at its core, is always about love, loyalty, and the pain of parting ways.
Real Madrid will be looking to pick up their fifth win of the 2026/27 La Liga season when they take on Elche CF at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero later tonight.
With 12 points from five games, Los Blancos are currently second in the league table, three points below leaders FC Barcelona.
As such, the Spanish capital club will be eager to get the win and close the gap to the top.
Guler starts, Bellingham rested
Ahead of kickoff, Real Madrid have announced the starting lineup that will take the field against Elche, with Jose Mourinho making some important changes.
For starters, Arda Guler is back in the lineup after appearing as a substitute in the win over Rayo Vallecano.
Interestingly, however, he starts in the attacking midfield role, with Mourinho opting to rest Jude Bellingham, who has started all of Real Madrid’s games so far.
That also means that Yan Diomande retains his place in the team, starting for a second time in a row on the right wing. Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. continue in their respective positions in attack.
Another notable change sees Aurelien Tchouameni make his first start of the season after recovering from injury and making two appearances off the bench.
He replaces Bernardo Silva as Federico Valverde’s partner in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marc Cucurella come in as full-backs, while Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen slot in at centre-back in front of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
📋✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 15, 2026
🆚 @ElcheCF
👉 @UnicajaBanco pic.twitter.com/rHzZI1CQM7
