BBC Sport pundit Nedum Onuoha and tactics correspondent Umir Irfan join Sam Harris to discuss Trent Alexander-Arnold’s tough return to Anfield with Real Madrid.
READ MORE: Liverpool ‘back to their best’ as they dominate Real Madrid
Warnock said: “There is a great player in Conor Bradley, but he needs to stay fit and get a run of games to build up a relationship with Salah. These things can take time, even with the best players.
“Trent leaving has had an impact on Salah. Their partnership, if not exactly unnoticed, was almost taken as read. Yes, they are world-class individuals, but it was also a partnership.
“They really complemented each other. Trent could go inside, draw people towards him, which freed up more space for Salah. And when Salah drove at people he had the ability to feed Trent because teams were backing off.”
Alexander-Arnold’s comfort in possession with his fellow defenders, plus the ability to move into midfield, means his presence is also sorely missed elsewhere.
Warnock said: “I think Ibrahima Konate probably misses him as well. He knew he could give Trent the ball under pressure. I think it is having an impact on the right-hand side of the pitch, both in defence and attack.
“Liverpool also created a box system in the centre of midfield, which they did so well, when Trent was in the side.
“There was a lot of praise given to Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, but Trent was a big part of that as well. Losing that extra body in the midfield area, when he was in there, is also missed because opponents were drawn to him, fearful of what he could create.”
Jeremie Frimpong, signed in a £29m deal from Bayer Leverkusen to compete with Bradley for the place vacated by Alexander-Arnold, has had his Anfield start curtailed by hamstring injuries.
Warnock said: “The biggest issue with Frimpong is not only injuries, but what is his best position? At Bayer Leverkusen he spent a lot of time as a right wing-back.”
If ‘the best things in life are free’ then clearly nobody told the 20 Premier League clubs, who spent an eye-watering £3.1bn this summer.
The top tier of English football is in a unique position. As the Premier League’s popularity and profits have grown, the money awarded to clubs competing in it far outweighs that of their European counterparts.
But Real Madrid once again proved this summer that money can only do so much.
There can be little doubt that when it comes to acquiring world-class talent for nothing or next to nothing, the Spanish giants are in a league of their own.
When Los Blancos signed Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool for 10m euros (£8.4m) in June, the fee was just to accelerate the move so he could be registered in time to play in the Club World Cup.
That signing meant for the fourth time in five years Real Madrid had won the free transfer lottery after signing David Alaba in 2021, Antonio Rudiger in 2022, Kylian Mbappe in 2024 and Alexander-Arnold, who would have joined for free if Real had decided to wait, in 2025.
What makes their hoard even more impressive is that they have signed talent from their biggest European rivals in Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Paris St-German and Liverpool respectively.
La Liga commentator Phil Kitromilides told BBC Sport that when the 36-time champions of Spain come calling it’s almost impossible to ignore them.
“It doesn’t matter where you come from, it doesn’t matter who you played for before. It doesn’t matter who your team was when you were growing up as a kid, this is it. This is the biggest thing you will ever do in your career,” he said.
“Take Trent for example – he was playing for his boyhood team [Liverpool]. He wouldn’t have done this for any other club but Real Madrid. It’s the allure, the grandeur.”
The fact Real Madrid sign these players for nothing is not the surprising factor. What’s intriguing is more often than not the players are aware the La Liga club perhaps can’t afford or are maybe unwilling to pay the asking price for them.
However, they are so keen to join they are willing to run down the final year of their current deals to make it happen.
Real Madrid have a long and illustrious history of winning major trophies – and the same can be said for landing a prized free agent, notably dating back to 1988 when German international Bernd Schuster famously left Barcelona to ply his trade at the Bernabeu.
Add to the list Steve McManaman, Michael Laudrup and Fernando Morientes – a few other names who’ve made the move for free.
Kitromilides added: “[In Madrid] second is nothing, absolutely nothing. The club has a relentless desire to win everything, every single possible trophy. This philosophy has helped them to build an aura of mystique. That is what’s helped convinced big-name players to run down their contracts at big clubs.”
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Dean Henderson
Defenders: Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Djed Spence
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Henderson, Adam Wharton, Morgan Rogers, Declan Rice
Forwards: Harry Kane, Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins
“As hard as it was to do it, I had to push myself to focus on what my job and role was. I tried to do it as best as I could, but it was difficult and I am not going to lie about that.
“[Jota] was one of my close friends – and I am sure that’s what he would have wanted me to do. I’m sure we would have had a laugh and joke about the assist as well. He was there with me, I am sure.”
Alexander-Arnold said the Portuguese forward was “someone who lit up the room when he was in it”.
“I shared the dressing room with him for five years – amazing memories on and off the pitch,” he added.
“It goes without saying he will never be forgotten by anyone. He will live long in all our memories for the amazing man and the player he was.”
Alexander-Arnold said it had been “very emotional and heartwarming to see the footballing world come together to show their love and support for [Jota], his brother and their family”.
“I’ve been around him, his brother, his family, his amazing wife, his amazing parents and his amazing children. It’s truly, truly heartbreaking to wake up to news like that,” added the England international.
“It’s something you never expect.”
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe was among the players who paid tribute to Jota on Saturday, with the France forward indicating number 20 after scoring an acrobatic late goal, in recognition of Jota’s Liverpool shirt number.
Frenchman Ousmane Dembele also paid a tribute to the Portuguese by copying his Fifa gaming celebration after sealing a 2-0 win for Paris St-Germain against Bayern Munich, which set up a last-four meeting with Real Madrid.
If you hadn’t heard of Garcia prior to the Club World Cup, you will have now.
The young Madrid forward has led the line in the absence of Kylian Mbappe – who made his comeback from gastroentiritis against Juventus – and has taken his chance with both hands.
With three goals in four games, Garcia is Los Blancos’ top scorer at the tournament and is behind only Benfica’s Angel di Maria in the overall standings.
Aside from a one-year spell away from the Spanish capital with Mallorca in 2018-19, the 21-year-old has been part of the Madrid set-up since the age of 10.
He rose through the ranks and made his first appearance with Madrid’s B team, Castilla, in March 2022.
The Spanish forward made his first-team debut in the November of that year but was still predominantly playing with Castilla, eventually scoring his first senior goal in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals against Leganes in February 2025.
After Real’s 3-0 victory over Salzburg, in which Garcia scored his second goal at the tournament, Alonso likened his attributes to that of the legendary Raul Gonzalez.
“What he’s doing isn’t a surprise. He’s done it many times at Castilla,” he said.
“He’s the typical number nine, who knows how to wait for his opportunity, who moves well.
“He has Raul qualities in his movements. There are no decisions regarding the start of next season.”
Mikel believes Garcia has earned his chance to start, even with Mbappe’s return to fitness.
“Who needs Mbappe when you have Garcia?” Mikel told Dazn.
“I’m pushing for the young lad, he has been on fire. This is what we love to see – young players getting opportunities.”
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, added: “In December 2024, Rahul – then manager of Real Madrid B – said Garcia should be in the first team. He was part of the youth team that won the treble in 2022/23. He was playing as a nine but also can play as a left winger.
“Real have been looking for a forward, someone who accepts his role behind Mbappe. Now they have got that nine through the ranks, Alonso has got a lot of confidence in him.
“He was the third top scorer in Real Madrid B history, arrived at Real Madrid when he was 10 and now he is a first teamer.”
Alexander-Arnold and Robertson played together on 279 occasions – an average of 35 games a season in all competitions in their eight seasons together.
And each of them only played more games with Mohamed Salah.
Robertson joined from Hull City for £8m in 2017-18 with Alexander-Arnold, an academy product, having made his debut the season before.
They won 185 of those 279 games, losing 43 times.
The two full-backs played attacking roles in former boss Jurgen Klopp’s high-energy football – and had a hand in nearly unprecedented numbers of goals.
In isolation their assist hauls would be remarkable but the fact they were both doing it at the same time is even more amazing.
In March 2019 Alexander-Arnold told the BBC: “We both thrive off each other’s performances.
“We have got a competition between ourselves this season to see who gets more goals and assists. It’s a healthy competition.”
Only on 10 occasions in Premier League history has a defender created 10 or more goals in a Premier League season – and Alexander-Arnold and Robertson have each done it three times.
In 2019-20 they assisted 25 goals between them.
Better at attacking than defending has been one of the most common ways to describe Alexander-Arnold’s career to date.
A full-back who bombed forward, and sometimes in a hybrid right-back/midfield role.
For a while, then England boss Gareth Southgate even tried him as a regular midfielder.
He left Anfield with 23 goals and 86 assists as he almost changed what the idea of a full-back can be.
So all eyes were on how he would fare with a new team.
“We know Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quality on the ball,” said former Newcastle and Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given on Dazn.
“He is a phenomenal player.
“Real Madrid in the Spanish league will have a lot of possession and Trent will play higher up the pitch.
“He will be questioned in this tournament defensively as they come up against stronger opposition. Can he step up?
“He said he wanted to go there and win the Ballon d’Or. That’s a big statement in itself.”
Alonso lined up with a standard back four in Miami – as opposed to the wing-back system he enjoyed great success with at Bayer Leverkusen.
Alexander-Arnold played at right-back and did get involved in midfield too.
But as the graphics above show he did not get as involved as much centrally as he did in his last start for Liverpool, a 3-1 loss at Chelsea on 4 May.
And he got involved in deeper positions too, to the right side of the penalty box, which is a place he was not seen as often in that game at Stamford Bridge.
But he attempted more crossfield balls than he did at Chelsea (as evidenced by the graphics below).
However – and it is something he might have to get used to until he settles in – he did not take any set-pieces for Real.
Newcastle striker Callum Wilson, who has been in England squads with the defender, said: “I have not seen as many people strike a ball as cleanly as him. Free-kicks, corners, set-pieces, he is going to add that to their game.
“He is going to be showing his qualities and won’t be getting challenged defensively as much.”
LIVERPOOL could be set to lose a second top star to a Madrid rival after Atletico Madrid reportedly made Andy Robertson their top target.
The Reds are already reeling from the loss of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid and could now be forced to deal with the loss of left-back Robertson in the same window.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold is unveiled as a Real Madrid player and impresses the crowd, including club president Florentino Perez, by speaking Spanish and saying “it’s a dream come true”.
READ MORE: Why Alexander-Arnold is not allowed to wear number 66 for Real Madrid
Spanish giants Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of England international Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool.
Real Madrid have signed defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a deal until 2031.
The 26-year-old England international’s contract at Anfield was drawing to an end but Madrid paid a fee to bring him in earlier so he can play in the Club World Cup, the Spanish club said on Friday.
Right-back Alexander-Arnold, who has just won the Premier League title with Liverpool, came through the academy of his boyhood club and won the Champions League in 2019.
He also won the Premier League in 2020 and 352 appearances for the club.
The defender joins former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, with the Spaniard appointed as their new coach to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
Alexander-Arnold’s close connections to Liverpool meant that his announcement that he was leaving the club was viewed with disgust by some supporters and he was booed in the penultimate match of the season.
But after club figures including former manager Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah urged fans to remember the contribution he has made to Liverpool’s success over the last six years, he was roundly cheered when he lifted the Premier League trophy at Anfield last Sunday.
The defender joins a Real Madrid side which failed to win a major trophy this season.
Alexander-Arnold has been criticised for his defensive concentration at times but brings supreme passing vision and attacking edge down the right flank.
Real Madrid have struggled at right-back this season with Dani Carvajal recovering from a long-term knee injury and winger Lucas Vazquez enduring a torrid time there out of position.
Alexander-Arnold could make his Real Madrid debut when they face Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in their opening Club World Cup match on June 18 in Miami.
Real Madrid have also signed Spanish centre-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth as they look to bolster a back line which was ravaged by injury this season.
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he turned off his television when he heard supporters booing Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The 26-year-old defender is leaving the club at the end of the season and is expected to join Real Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold arrived at the club aged six and was a key component in Liverpool’s success under German Klopp, which included a first league title in 30 years in 2019-20.
However after announcing his decision to not sign a new contract, some fans turned against the player and some booed him when he came off the substitutes bench against Arsenal earlier this month.
Speaking at a fundraising event for the LFC Foundation on Friday, where he brought along a signed Alexander-Arnold shirt to auction, the ex-manager said supporters were “wrong” to boo and launched a passionate defence of the England full-back.
“I don’t want to tell you what you have to think. I can tell you what you think is wrong,” Klopp said.
“I don’t tell you you should not be angry, you should not be disappointed, I tell you don’t forget. This club doesn’t forget.
“I watched the game when he came on and I heard the booing. I switched the telly [television] off. Honestly, I could not have been more disappointed at this moment.”
And he highlighted the Liverpool-born player’s commitment to the club during Klopp’s spell as manager.
“I was there. I can tell you, this boy he gave absolutely everything,” he said.
Manchester City hold a meeting with Florian Wirtz, Liverpool have also made contact with the Bayer Leverkusen forward, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo is the subject of Premier League interest.
Manchester City have met with Bayer Leverkusen forward Florian Wirtz, 22, over a potential summer move for the German. (Bild, external)
However, Liverpool have also made contact with Wirtz to express interest in signing the playmaker this summer. (Athletic – subscription required, external)
Premier League clubs including Manchester City and Arsenal are circling Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, 24, amid reports of the Brazilian falling out with club staff. (AS – in Spanish, external)
Real Madrid are willing to pay the £50m release clause to sign Spanish central defender Dean Huijsen, 20, from Bournemouth. (Sky Sports, external)
Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee, 23, is a summer transfer target for Inter Milan after the Dutchman’s disappointing campaign. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian, external)
Liverpool will not accept an £850,000 fee from Real Madrid to allow defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, to make an early move to the Spanish club. (Sun, external)
Newcastle have moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign English defender Marc Guehi, 24, from Crystal Palace. (Teamtalk, external)
Bayern Munich have agreed a fee with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Germany centre-back Jonathan Tah, 29. (Fabrizio Romano, external)
Barcelona are keen to rival Arsenal in moving for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, 24. (AS – in Spanish, external)
Barcelona are willing to offload up to eight first-team players this summer in order to finance transfers and new contracts. (Mirror, external)
Barca want to sign a central defender, a full-back and a winger as cover for 17-year-old Spain star Lamine Yamal. (Espn), external
RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons is ready to leave the club this summer, despite the 22-year-old Netherlands midfielder only signing a permanent deal in January. (Fabrizio Romano, external)
Bristol City want to keep striker Nahki Wells, 34, next season after failing to reach the Premier League via the Championship play-offs. (Sky Sports, external)
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy and former Southampton boss Russell Martin discuss defender Trent Alexander-Arnold being jeered by Liverpool fans after confirming he will leave Anfield this summer.
READ MORE: ‘Not nice to hear’ – were jeers ‘shocking’ or ‘understandable’?