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By MIKE KEEGAN, CHIEF SPORTS REPORTER Published: 02: 42 AEST, 29 August 2025 | Updated: 05: 22 AEST, 29 August 2025 32 View comments Trent Alexander-Arnold will return to Anfield after the Champions League draw pitted Liverpool against Real Madrid. The former defender, who enraged large sections of the club's support when he left to join the Spaniards on a free transfer, will quickly be back in town – and some are already vowing to make it the 'worst 90 minutes of his life'. Alexander-Arnold's homecoming was one of two to result from a draw that presents varying levels of difficulty for the competition-record six English sides in it. Manchester City legend Kevin de Bruyne will head to the Etihad Stadium when Napoli visit following his move at the end of the season, while City will take on Real Madrid for the fifth consecutive campaign. Elsewhere, Bayern Munich's Harry Kane avoided a clash with Tottenham but the England striker will face both Arsenal and Chelsea. Alexander-Arnold's return was the major talking point of a glitzy affair in Monaco. In the first match after news emerged that the right-back, who had been with Liverpool since the age of six, was to leave without his club picking up a transfer fee, he was loudly booed. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been handed an awkward Anfield return after Real Madrid were drawn with Liverpool in the Champions League The defender left Merseyside on a free transfer in the summer after running down his contract, a decision that angered large sections of the support Who do you think will win? Liverpool V Arsenal *18+, excludes NI. Terms and conditions apply The situation split the Anfield fanbase - and even prompted an intervention from former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, who rounded on those involved. 'I honestly couldn't have been more disappointed in this moment, ' he said while holding a shirt bearing the player's name at an LFC Foundation Gala Ball. 'This is not us, 100% not us. ' Following Klopp's comments, Alexander-Arnold was applauded when he came off the bench for his final Reds appearance and again when he lifted the Premier League trophy afterwards. But there may well be a different response when he returns in the white shirt of the Spanish giants. Anfield Edition, an account with 500, 000 followers on X, posted: ' We need to ensure those 90 minutes are the worst of Trent Alexander-Arnold's life. 'Current Liverpool boss Arne Slot did not mention the prospect when interviewed by the club's website, preferring instead to address a difficult draw that also includes Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid. 'I think the first thing to say is that like last season, it is a very challenging draw, but we knew that it would be because in the Champions League, especially with the new format, there is no such thing as an easy draw, ' he said. City director of football Hugo Viana believes the club will roll out the red carpet for De Bruyne. 'I think Pep (Guardiola) and all of his colleagues will be really happy to receive him and our fans will be also, ' he said. 'It will be very exciting and we will be very happy to see him again. ' Aside from Bayern, Arsenal, last season's beaten semi-finalists, will face the likes of Inter, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao. Former Gunners forward Theo Walcott, representing the club in Monaco, believes this summer's heavy recruitment drive could take them a step further. 'I do feel (they are) a lot more equipped this year, ' he said. 'When you add the Viktor Gyökeres signing, I know it's easy to say right now, but if you put him in against PSG last year, I feel like they win the game. Strikers do things that other players don't. ' Across London, Chelsea may be wincing after being pitted against Barcelona, Bayern and Napoli, while Spurs should be happier with a list that includes Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco. Newcastle United will welcome Barcelona to St James' Park for a rerun of their classic 1997 clash, while Eddie Howe's men will also take on the likes of PSG and Marseille. No English sides will have to take on the 9, 000-mile round trip to Kazakhstan to face Celtic's conquerors Kairat Almaty, while former Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood will come face to face with fans from this country for the first time since he was arrested for rape and subsequently saw charges dropped when Marseille entertain Liverpool. Each team will play eight matches from September to January, before play-offs and a last-16. The top eight go through automatically. Dates and kick off times will be released on Saturday, while the draws for both the Europa and Conference Leagues will take place on Friday. Earlier, UEFA announced the kick-off time for the final would be brought forward three hours to 5pm.
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