Liverpool are set to face Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage once again.
Last season, Arne Slot’s men were drawn against Los Blancos and, although many thought they’d lose, they ended up winning the tie 2-0.
This time around, things are likely to be much different with Liverpool among the favourites to win the Champions League trophy this term.
Real Madrid will not only be seen as the underdogs, but they’ll also have Trent Alexander-Arnold making a swift return to Anfield after his controversial move at the start of the summer transfer window.
At the moment, Alexander-Arnold is out of favour with Madrid, but by the time November 4th comes around, there’s no knowing where the right-back could stand and whether or not he’ll be playing.
Ally McCoist believes there will be a “mixed” reception for Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool in November
One of the main reasons that fans felt so betrayed by Alexander-Arnold this season was due to the way he chose to exit.
If he had confirmed to fans before the end of the season that he wanted to leave and join Madrid, then his departure would have likely been more accepted.
But instead, he led fans on, tapping the badge whenever he scored and making them think that he might end up staying after all.
However, that evidently wasn’t the case, and now Ally McCoist, while speaking to TNT Sports, believes that the right-back will have a bit of a “mixed reception” upon his return to Liverpool.
“Sadly, I think it will be mixed [Trent Alexander-Arnold’s reception at Liverpool when they face Real Madrid],” he said.
“I get it, and I know what football fans are like, I get it totally, but I think the majority of Liverpool fans totally appreciate and understand him and are thankful for Trent’s services, which were fantastic.
“There will be a little bit of an edge, and some of the fans will give him a hard time, that goes without saying.
“But I would think and I would hope that the majority of them will be pleased to see him back and welcome him back.”
Liverpool’s fans have no need to be kind to Trent Alexander-Arnold
Although the right-back may have thought he was doing the best thing possible for his career, things haven’t turned out that way.
It was clear that Liverpool were going to undergo a massive rebuild this summer, and keeping the core of the team the same was going to be essential.
However, since Alexander-Arnold chose to leave, it made Liverpool go for Jeremie Frimpong, which, so far at least, feels like a bit of an upgrade.
And, while some fans may have preferred him to stick around and see out the rest of his career at Anfield, it’s clear that he didn’t want the same.
Alexander-Arnold was the one who made the choice, and if the reception is as hostile as it feels like it’s going to be, then he’s going to have to figure out how to deal with it.
After all, he’s the one who chose to betray his boyhood club for a team who, on paper, are much worse off than Liverpool are at the moment.
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