Arne Slot makes feelings crystal clear on Liverpool crowd booing Trent Alexander-Arnold

Arne Slot delivered his verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold being booed ahead of Liverpool's Champions League showdown with Real Madrid. The right-back made the switch to Los Blancos this past summer in an £8million deal and made his first return to Anfield since departing several months ago.

An injury has kept him sidelined for several weeks, with Xabi Alonso predictably opting to name him amongst the substitutes as he hasn't featured for Real since mid-September. He has remained an unused substitute in their previous two matches. Alexander-Arnold was undoubtedly the main talking point for this fixture, with Slot quizzed about him on TNT Sport.

"I have no clue," he said when asked about the potential response of Liverpool fans to his return.

"I don't even know if there is a reception if he does the warm-up before the game. That's not the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about this game.

"First, it's the ones that play for me and then the ones that play for Real Madrid that I'm thinking about.

"Of course, if Trent comes in he can impact the game with the ball, I know, more than anyone else - not than anyone else - but I definitely know because he did this last season a few times.

"An incredible player and a great human being as well."

Slot quickly received his answer regarding the type of reception he would receive with Alexander-Arnold jeered as he warmed up. Alonso was also questioned about the 27-year-old during his pre-match press conference.

"We have spoken about the team and the club, he has to enjoy it his own way," he said. "He was born and bred here and from young age, I remember him. Winning Champions League, he deserves to enjoy that moment, it's nice to be back and for him it will be nice."

Federico Valverde was deployed at right-back with Alexander-Arnold starting on the substitutes' bench. Dean Huijsen also returned to England following his switch from Bournemouth to the Spanish capital, with an attacking trio of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr leading the line.

Slot, meanwhile, opted to make one alteration from the side that defeated Aston Villa at the weekend, bringing in Florian Wirtz for Cody Gakpo. The decision meant Andy Robertson, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister all retained their positions.

Wirtz's inclusion might be viewed as surprising considering Liverpool's impressive performance on Saturday evening and his own recent difficulties.

"You can say he started one of the last four but also a few games this season too," Slot acknowledged regarding the Germany international.

"It's not an excuse, just how it is, but we have played many times 3 in 7 days, for a player from a different league, the Premier League is a bit more intense, especially in all the games and the top games If you look at that he has played a lot, had an impact in many games, unlucky in the end product by himself at times and the team-mates.

"He can create a lot for the team, he will score but I don't think it comes as surprise to anyone if you are 22 to a new league, it might need some adjustment. Gravenberch was sitting here just now and took him a while to adjust, maybe even longer than it took Florian."