Liverpool know Trent Alexander-Arnold truth and what Spanish media asked at training says it all

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Theo Squires was at the AXA Training Centre for Liverpool's open training session ahead of facing Real Madrid, where Trent Alexander-Arnold was the dominant name on the lips of the Spanish media presentIt was busy as usual for Liverpool at the AXA Training Centre on Monday as they took part in open training ahead of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid. While plenty had been made of Xabi Alonso’s decision to snub the opportunity for the La Liga giants to train at Anfield ahead of the clash, in Spain at least, the Reds have no interest in such sideshows.Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday night, beating Aston Villa, thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch.And they will now be hoping to build on such a result against Madrid as they look to put a wretched October behind them once and for all.READ MORE: Conor Bradley hails return of 'massive' Liverpool player as 'difficult' admission madeREAD MORE: Liverpool get injury boost for Real Madrid as Alexander Isak update emergesFor Arne Slot’s men, it was a training session like any other - albeit one that featured a few more unfamiliar faces than normal to emphasise one point made by the Dutchman in recent days.Curtis Jones handed the Reds head coach a welcome boost as he returned to training, but Alexander Isak and Alisson Becker remained absent along with Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni, the latter out for the long-term with a knee injury.As a result, Slot’s options remain limited after he insisted he does not boast the depth of the likes of Man City and Chelsea.

Such comments earned him derisory retorts from outsiders after a £450m summer transfer spending spree.But like it or not, the sight of youngsters Kaide Gordon, Calvin Ramsay, Tommy Pilling and Wellity Lucky joining Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni in training with the senior ranks proves such a point.Yet while it was just another day at the office for Slot’s side, the rather increased number of gathered media present at the open training session told its own story.Liverpool vs Real Madrid will always be one of the biggest shows in town, with the two continental juggernauts boasting 21 European Cups between them.But with Trent Alexander-Arnold returning to Anfield for the first time since leaving the Reds, there is a rather obvious elephant in the room ahead of Tuesday night’s game.And it did not take long for the Spanish media present at Kirkby to address it with their English counterparts.Ahead of the start of training, a number of Spanish TV channels used the time to interview their peers about two of the bigger talking points ahead of the game“What reception do you think Trent will get back at Anfield?” asked one. But there is no escaping the fact that Alexander-Arnold’s return is a big story.Returning from a hamstring injury last month, the England international is yet to make an appearance since his comeback - despite Dani Carvajal again being injured.It would be a big call from Alonso to thrust him straight back into the starting XI in familiar surroundings on Merseyside.Having bemoaned the eyes of ‘200 cameras’ when explaining his decision to snub training at Anfield, only the former Red - who is making his own Anfield return - will know how much the Alexander-Arnold sideshow contributed to his decision.When Real Madrid last came to Anfield last November, the Liverpool vice-captain’s contract saga was very much ongoing.

Returning from injury to face the Spanish giants, he was left unused on the bench as the Reds ran out 2-0 winners.But both Carlo Ancelotti and Jude Bellingham had to dodge questions about the defender when on pre-match press duties as speculation tipping Alexander-Arnold to the Bernabeu continued.He had been the talking point when Spanish media approached their English counterparts on that occasion too.It is perhaps telling that the futures of the likes of Ibrahima Konate and Alexis Mac Allister, who have also found themselves frequently linked with moves to Madrid, has become more of an afterthought ahead of Tuesday night’s game.The France international, like Alexander-Arnold last year, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been tipped to become Real's next high-profile Bosman signing.After helping Liverpool keep a clean sheet for the first time in 11 games against Villa, the centre-back cut a relaxed figure at the AXA Training Centre. Ahead of training, he joked alongside compatriot Hugo Ekitike.And once the session got underway, he earned teasing jeers from his team-mates after knocking over a hurdle in one exercise.But rather than his future being a big talking point among the gathered media, Alexander-Arnold very much remains the dominant topic.Perhaps not in the Liverpool camp, though.Virgil van Dijk sidestepped questions about his former team-mate when speaking following Saturday’s win over Aston Villa, revealing he had not spoken much to Alexander-Arnold since his exit and refused to be drawn on what type of Anfield atmosphere should await.Liverpool are a big name in their own right and Alexander-Arnold is their past.