Trent Alexander-Arnold probably didn't expect to find himself benched for Real Madrid's second game of the season. Yet being dropped from the first eleven isn't entirely new territory for him, with former manager Jurgen Klopp once benching him for a crucial tie at Liverpool, as it was his birthday.

Alexander-Arnold's dreammove to the Spanish capital took a turn for the unexpected at the weekend. He was unceremoniously left on the sidelines by Xabi Alonso for Real's game against Real Oviedo in favour of veteran full-back Dani Carvajal, 33.

Alexander-Arnold, 26, eventually made it onto the pitch, but had to wait until the 87th minute. Previously, Klopp dropped his right-back for a crunch tie against Manchester City in October 2018.

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Despite being over two years into his senior career with the Reds at the time, and cementing himself as a generational talent, Alexander-Arnold was left out against Pep Guardiola's side.

Instead, Joe Gomez deputised at right-back in a 0-0 draw. Afterwards, Klopp expanded on the bizarre reason that Alexander-Arnold was left to warm the bench.

“He is a fantastic boy and a fantastic player. Thank God we have a few options to change the line-up,” said Klopp. “I don’t think it’s a challenge, but if a player struggles with something like that [being dropped], he will struggle over his career.

“It was his birthday, the City game, so I thought the night before, a lot of people might have contacted him, so I didn’t want to disturb all these message exchanges. Joe can play there and with respect deserved to play.

"I think about the players I line up first, not what it would mean for Trent. It was nothing. He came back in a good shape and a good mood.”

Being on the end of Klopp's brutal cull from the team will no doubt have steeled Alexander-Arnold for his latest setback, with the German also dropping Alexander-Arnold in February 2022.

However, he could have a fight on his hands to regain his place with Los Blancos. Real boss Alonso suggested that no one is guaranteed a starting spot, while he later hinted that Carvajal could retain his place in the team for some time to come.

Alonso said: “It depends on what we need in terms of the game, the workload and the opposition. I haven't made a decision for the next month.

"I'm going to see how we recover and to make sure that people feel important and ready to start, come off the bench or be able to be in the next game... we have twenty-odd players in the squad and I'm going to try to get the best out of all of them."

While Alonso did not namecheck Alexander-Arnold specifically, he was full of praise for Carvajal. The Real boss suggested that the full-back's form could potentially be good enough to see him regain a spot back in the Spain squad - and his effusive praise for his compatriot will come as a dire warning for Alexander-Arnold.

“He'd like to return, but it's the coach's decision," Alonso said of Carvajal. "I'm very happy that he's regaining his confidence after such a long injury. At the Club World Cup, he was in the mood, but he needed more time.

“And he still does, but today he played 85 minutes very much in the Carvajal style. Competing well, communicating and taking that leadership role. Bringing a lot of sense to everything. Hopefully he'll go and, if not, he'll go soon.”

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