Former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold could be handed a fresh opportunity to impress Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid as injury concerns emerge

Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold could receive a major boost in his fight for more minutes at Real Madrid.

The 28-year-old ended his longstanding relationship with Liverpool back in 2025 following the team's famous Premier League title triumph under Arne Slot. Speculation had mounted over the course of numerous seasons regarding Real Madrid's interest, and he ultimately saw out his contract to join the La Liga giants as a free agent.

However, it's fair to say his time in the Spanish capital has not gone entirely to plan. While Alexander-Arnold had expressed his ambition to win the Ballon d'Or prior to his Anfield exit, his limited game time at the Bernabeu means those goals are a little far-fetched at this moment in time.

Last season, under Xabi Alonso and then Alvaro Arbeloa, Alexander-Arnold made 30 appearances across all competitions. However, a string of injuries meant he wasn't as involved as he would've liked.

This term, under new manager Jose Mourinho, minutes have been hard to come by despite his availability. He has made just eight appearances across all competitions, totaling fewer than 450 minutes.

Even though he has summer signing Denzel Dumfries to compete with for a starting role, Mourinho has overlooked both of them in favor of club captain Federico Valverde at times. But with the midfielder now struggling with fitness concerns, an opportunity could be right around the corner for Alexander-Arnold.

Valverde's injury worries started after Real Madrid's El Clasico win over Barcelona at the end of October. Now, having arrived on international duty with Uruguay, he's admitted he's still suffering from the effects.

"I'm still feeling a bit of discomfort and I'm not 100% fit," Valverde told local media outlet Sport 890. "But you always have to come up for the national team and it's always good to be here.

"I was really looking forward to coming and spending time with my teammates on a day-to-day basis."

It is not yet clear whether Valverde will have to see his game time reduced when club football returns after the international break. Should that be the case, it could be the perfect opportunity for Alexander-Arnold to force his way into Mourinho's plans, even if there is still competition.

It's arguably a crucial time for the defender as links with a move away from Real Madrid, however tentative they may be, are already surfacing in the media. While suggestions of an imminent exit have been played down by both the player and manager, there's no denying that a continued lack of game time could force a decision on his long-term future.