Trent Alexander-Arnold pulled up injured just three minutes into Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Marseille on Tuesday evening at the Santiago Bernabeu. The English full-back, handed his Champions League debut in the white jersey by head coach Xabi Alonso, lasted just three minutes before pulling up in pain.
From dream start to disaster
Alexander-Arnold had barely broken into stride when disaster struck. Sprinting forward with the ball, he suddenly clutched at his left hamstring. The look on his face said it all, another cruel twist for a player who has had rotten luck since swapping Merseyside for Madrid.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportLimping off but no stretcher
Alexander-Arnold sank to the turf, grimacing and shaking his head in disbelief. But in a small mercy for the fans, he managed to walk off on his own, declining a stretcher and showing at least some signs of mobility.
Alonso's rotation plans in tatters
Alonso has been keen to rotate his full-backs this season, giving Carvajal and Alexander-Arnold two La Liga starts apiece in the opening four fixtures. The plan was to keep legs fresh, competition fierce, and options plentiful across all competitions. But that strategy is now under threat. Carvajal, a club stalwart and academy graduate, has once again shown why prising the role away from him is near-impossible. With Alexander-Arnold sidelined, the Spaniard has a grip on the starting spot.
AFPA blow to Trent's new chapter
For Alexander-Arnold, the timing could not be worse. Moving from Liverpool to Real Madrid was meant to be the fresh start to supercharge his career. Instead, his Bernabeu story has already hit a stumbling block. The full-back has shown flashes of his trademark passing range and attacking instincts, but the sheer presence of Carvajal has prevented him from truly planting his flag in Spain. This latest setback leaves him scrambling to prove his worth all over again.