Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit from Liverpool last summer ranked amongst the more divisive departures in Premier League history. Alexander-Arnold, 26, departed Anfield for Real Madrid having secured two domestic titles, a Champions League trophy, an FA Cup, two League Cups, a Club World Cup and a UEFA Super Cup.

However, sections of the Anfield support ruthlessly jeered the talented right-back shortly after he publicly declared his intention to depart the club following months of speculation. The player’s continued silence amidst persistent rumours before his bombshell revelation was seemingly not swiftly forgiven.

Madrid eventually paid £10million to Liverpool to acquire Alexander-Arnold at the beginning of last summer. However, his dream switch to the Spanish capital has proved disappointing thus far.

From Alexander-Arnold’s comments upon leaving Liverpool, supporters’ response as he returned to Anfield with Madrid, and his difficulties at his new club, Express Sport examines how his recent months have transpired.

Alexander-Arnold’s regret

After departing Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold disclosed that he sympathised with those supporters who struggled to comprehend his rationale for leaving his boyhood club. His statement carried hints of regret, recognising his departure would trigger waves of fury and dismay.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

“I completely understand the feelings that go with that [leaving Liverpool] and I’ve felt it myself so I completely understand that the news will disappoint a lot of people, will anger people, it will make them upset,” he said after making his decision to join Madrid.

“Obviously that went into the decision as well – it’s something you don’t want to do, you don’t want to ever have these moments where you feel like you’re letting a lot of people down, you’re disappointing a lot of people. But I’ve had to make a decision for me, it’s as simple as that.

“I know the news will take a bit of time to set in and people won’t be happy and they’ll be disappointed. At the end of the day, you can be angry and hurt at me but I just hope that the lads, the rest of the team, the staff, everyone else is able to feel how good a season this has been.”

Alexander-Arnold perhaps never anticipated returning to his childhood club quite so swiftly. Liverpool welcomed Madrid to Anfield in the Champions League in November, just months after his departure, and the reception was perhaps entirely predictable.

The right-back started the evening on the bench for Los Blancos. Shortly after Liverpool had established a 1-0 advantage, the crowd was in tremendous voice and they made themselves heard even more emphatically when Alexander-Arnold came on with 10 minutes left on the clock.

The former Anfield favourite was predominantly met with jeers as he entered the field. Supporters then deliberately chanted about club icon Steven Gerrard and Alexander-Arnold’s successor at right-back, Conor Bradley, in a pointed message to their ex-hero.

Whilst Alexander-Arnold’s move has dominated the headlines, his move has been marred by fitness issues. The right-back has had to navigate a swift managerial upheaval after settling into his new environment, with Xabi Alonso brutally dismissed in favour of Alvaro Arbeloa just six months into his tenure.

On the pitch, Alexander-Arnold has shared duties with Dani Carvajal for the right-back position. In September, the England international suffered a significant setback when he was ruled out for six weeks due to injury.

The Spanish press has also been harsh in their assessment of his displays, with Marca branding him “clueless and insubstantial.”

In December, he was withdrawn from the pitch with an injury during what was his finest showing for the club against Athletic Club, a fixture in which he registered his first La Liga assist.

Following his first starting appearance in over two months last weekend, during which he provided an assist in the 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad, Arbeloa suggested Alexander-Arnold’s prospects were, in fact, promising.

“Working with [Alexander-Arnold], he strikes me as a very intelligent guy, who understands the game very well, and quickly grasps what we want from him,” Arbeloa said.

“He’s not the typical full-back who’s always going to be out wide, he can also play centrally. We want players to be able to interchange positions. We’re lucky to have a player like that.”

It remains a season he’ll probably wish to forget, but staying fit and continuing to earn Arbeloa’s praise will provide some redemption. Whether it’ll prove sufficient to secure a place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad is another question, however.

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page