Trent Alexander-Arnold Shows Flashes in Madrid Debut

Trent Alexander-Arnold stepped into new territory as he made his first competitive appearance for Real Madrid, playing 65 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup. Now wearing ‘Trent’ and the number 12 on his back, the 26-year-old began life in white under new boss Xabi Alonso.

His debut mixed the early rust of a player adapting to fresh surroundings with glimpses of the attacking influence that made him so vital across 354 games for Liverpool.

“An amazing day to make my debut for Real Madrid, almost what every player dreams of,” Alexander-Arnold told Dazn after the final whistle. “Incredible, I felt the support from the moment I signed for the club. Sensational. The fanbase is truly global all over the world. You feel it every single day.”

His start was far from smooth. On three first-half occasions, Al-Hilal exploited Madrid’s right flank — Trent’s side — and one resulted from him losing the ball near the halfway line. His early passes were mostly routine; a lofted ball overhit Vinicius Jr., and he was beaten in the air by Hassan Al Tambakti at a set piece.

But he grew into the match. Cutting out a ball from Salem Al Dawsari near his own box, he set up Gonzalo Garcia, who found the net in the following phase. He also registered a block and ended the first half with 84% pass accuracy — second-best in the team — and completed every pass after the break.

As the game progressed, Alexander-Arnold took on more attacking duties, drifting into midfield and contributing five crosses and 16 passes in the final third — more than any teammate before his substitution. He was also involved more often in that area of the pitch than anyone else, aside from one player. Still, he also turned over possession a match-high 12 times.

Real lined up in a back four, differing from Alonso’s previous wing-back setups at Bayer Leverkusen. From the right-back slot, Trent shuffled into midfield zones, though his positioning stayed deeper than in his final Liverpool appearance — a 3-1 loss to Chelsea — where he operated more centrally.

Madrid’s setup mirrored a simpler shape that lacked his usual set-piece responsibility. A change of scenery might mean fewer dead-ball chances for now, but Callum Wilson believes the defender’s technique will come through. “Free-kicks, corners, set-pieces — he is going to add that to their game,” said the Newcastle striker.

Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold surprised viewers at his unveiling by speaking Spanish — fluently, some thought — sparking claims among Liverpool fans that he’d long been planning this exit.

Asked post-match about his language skills, he replied: “A couple of months. It was something important that I had to do. It is important to show the intent that I want to embrace the culture and adapt as best as possible.”

Pundit John Obi Mikel wasn’t convinced: “He spent a couple of months learning Spanish, but I don’t agree with that. Maybe a year!”

As Madrid continue their Club World Cup campaign, eyes will remain on how Trent adapts to his new surroundings — both on the pitch and off it.