Trent Alexander-Arnold is set for a swift reunion with former Liverpool academy graduate Curtis Jones when Real Madrid host Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The England defender has endured a difficult start to life in Spain, having played in just one match under new boss Jose Mourinho. Jones, meanwhile, has made an immediate impact in Italy, coming off the bench with Inter trailing Napoli 2-0 and playing an instrumental role in their remarkable 3-2 comeback win, which maintained their perfect record.
Contrasting fortunes for former Anfield men
Reflecting on the triumph, Jones said: "I'm absolutely over the moon. I am so happy to be part of a team and a club like this. It was obviously a hard game, but the lads stuck to the game plan. The fans were great throughout the whole match, and that is why we won."
Across in Spain, Alexander-Arnold was brought on for the final 30 minutes against Real Betis, only to witness Kylian Mbappe's penalty saved as his side suffered a 1-0 defeat at the weekend.
Mourinho outlines long-term plans
Mourinho has outlined long-term plans for the defender, insisting he believes Alexander-Arnold is better suited to partnering new signing Yan Diomande. He told AS: "The team has always been good. I haven't seen the stats, but we created a lot. We missed three or four clear chances and their goalkeeper made three or four impressive saves.
"I didn't make changes because I wasn't happy; they were to take off the players who had been booked. It's better to play with Trent and Yan Diomande than with Denzel Dumfries."
With Diomande still a teenager, Alexander-Arnold may find his opportunities at Real remain limited. The right-back had been heavily linked with a sensational return to Anfield this summer amid Andoni Iraola's hunt for defensive reinforcements.
Alexander-Arnold on Liverpool
As speculation continued to mount, the 27-year-old openly admitted he will always regard Liverpool as "home" in his heart. Alexander-Arnold told The Mirror in August: "I still watch every [Liverpool] game. I support them. I want to see them do well. I enjoy watching them, and there will always be a place in my heart for Liverpool, no matter what.
"It is home to me. It's the place that gave me the opportunities to go and do what I've done, and I will always love it. It's always a place that I'll call home."
