Dietmar Hamann claims Liverpool are already missing Trent Alexander-Arnold & insists Real Madrid defender ‘deserves a hero’s welcome’ when he returns to Anfield for Champions League clash

Liverpool football club is a team that is used to change. Over the years they have seen legends come and go, from Steven Gerrard to Luis Suárez, from Fernando Torres to Philippe Coutinho. But even with all these stories of exits and heartbreak, the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid in the summer of 2025 still feels like something different. This one is painful in a way that goes deeper than just football. This one touches the heart of the supporters, because Trent was not just a player who joined the club, he was born into it. He was Liverpool through and through, a boy from West Derby who rose from the academy to conquer the world with his right foot. And now, just weeks into the new season, his absence is already being felt, louder than ever, with even former players like Dietmar Hamann openly saying the Reds are missing him badly.

The story of Trent’s exit shocked the football world when it was confirmed. He left Liverpool on a free transfer to join Real Madrid, the Spanish giants who seem to always circle around Liverpool’s brightest stars. Liverpool thought they had a replacement ready in Jeremie Frimpong, the flying full-back signed from Bayer Leverkusen. The plan was simple: Frimpong’s speed and energy would add a new dynamic to Arne Slot’s system while Trent’s loss would be softened. But football has a cruel way of twisting plans, and after just 60 minutes of his Premier League debut against Bournemouth, Frimpong pulled up with a hamstring injury. That single moment opened a wound in Liverpool that is still bleeding now. Without their new signing, Arne Slot had to improvise. He shifted Dominik Szoboszlai, a midfielder, into the right-back position. To his credit, the Hungarian has fought with pride in that role, even scoring a wonder goal against Arsenal that sealed a massive win. But everyone watching knows it is not the same. Liverpool lost more than a right-back when Trent left. They lost their playmaker, their heartbeat on the right flank, the man who could change the game with one pass. And no matter how hard Szoboszlai runs or how hard Frimpong trains, that magic is not something easy to replace.

Dietmar Hamann, the former Liverpool midfielder who knows what it takes to control a game, spoke out about this reality. He said that Liverpool fans may not want to admit it yet, because emotions are still raw after Trent’s departure, but deep inside, they miss him. They miss the way he dictated play from deep, the way he could switch the ball forty yards with accuracy that stunned even world-class players. They miss his presence, his leadership, his belief in the club. Hamann said Trent deserves nothing less than a hero’s welcome when Real Madrid come to Anfield for the Champions League clash next month. He admitted there will be a mixed reaction because of the way he left, but he begged the fans to remember the bigger picture: this was a boy who gave everything for ten years, who lifted trophies, who never cost Liverpool a transfer fee, and who walked away only because his contract expired. In Hamann’s eyes, such loyalty deserves respect even in departure.

It is easy to understand why Hamann speaks this way. Trent was not just any right-back. He was the one who redefined the position. At 26, he had already achieved more than most players dream of. Premier League titles, Champions League nights, England caps, all while playing for the club he grew up supporting. His crosses were feared across Europe, his vision was compared to midfield maestros, and his bravery in possession inspired teammates. But when Real Madrid came knocking, the temptation was too much. A new challenge, a chance to wear the white shirt at the Santiago Bernabéu, a chance to join a team that lives to dominate Europe. Some Liverpool fans understood. Others saw it as betrayal. That is why his return to Anfield in a different shirt will be one of the most dramatic moments of the season. The stadium will shake with noise. Some will clap. Some will boo. But no one will be silent, because everyone knows what Trent means to Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s season is already complicated by his absence. Frimpong is injured, Conor Bradley is still learning at the highest level, and Slot is experimenting with lineups to fill the gap. Against Newcastle, they battled hard without a natural right-back. Against Arsenal, Szoboszlai saved the day with his strike, but the defensive balance remains uncertain. Supporters whisper about Trent every weekend, sometimes in frustration, sometimes in longing. They know the team is strong, but they also know a piece is missing. When Hamann says Liverpool miss him, he is only saying what many fans already feel deep down.

The drama does not stop there. Trent’s new life at Real Madrid has already had its own ups and downs. He started in two of their first three La Liga games, showing flashes of his trademark passing and confidence. But even as he settles in Spain, new challenges have arrived. Thomas Tuchel, now in charge of England, left him out of the squad for the World Cup qualifiers. For a player who dreamed of representing his country on the biggest stage, that snub cuts deep. To be in Madrid, playing for Los Blancos, but still not convincing your national team manager, is a strange reality. It shows that no matter how much a player achieves, there are always battles to fight, always critics to silence. Trent will return to Madrid’s lineup against Real Sociedad after the international break, but his mind will surely drift to Anfield, where his next great test awaits.

For Liverpool supporters, the build-up to that game is already emotional. Some argue that boos are deserved because he walked away for free. Others insist that his service to the club demands respect. Families are divided in opinion, pubs are filled with heated debates, and social media burns with comments every time his name is mentioned. The Champions League has always brought unforgettable nights to Anfield, but this one is shaping up to be different. This one is about more than just football. This is about memory, loyalty, and love for a player who was once their own. The welcome he receives will say a lot about where Liverpool stand as a fanbase, and whether they choose forgiveness over anger.

Hamann’s words add fuel to this fire. He knows that football is about feelings as much as tactics. He reminds people that Trent was a hero before he became a rival. He tells them not to let bitterness erase the joy of what they once had. And deep down, many fans know he is right. They remember his corner against Barcelona, his long passes against Manchester United, his leadership in finals. They remember a local boy who lived their dream. And even if the sight of him in a Real Madrid shirt hurts, that memory cannot be erased.

The timing of all this makes it even more dramatic. Liverpool are trying to rebuild under Arne Slot after Jürgen Klopp’s departure, a new era with new ideas. But losing Trent at the very start of this journey feels like a wound that won’t heal quickly. Slot speaks about adaptation, resilience, and patience, but he also knows that great teams are built on great players. Losing one of your greatest just as you start a new chapter is not ideal. He must find a way to make the team strong without him, but every setback, every dropped point, will bring the same question: what if Trent was still here?

Meanwhile in Madrid, Trent is starting to learn a new culture, a new language, a new way of life. The spotlight is fierce, the expectations higher than ever. Real Madrid demand success, and they demand it immediately. He knows he cannot afford to be just good; he must be brilliant. The Champions League clash against Liverpool will not just be about nostalgia. It will also be about proving himself. Can he stand strong against his old club? Can he show that he made the right choice? The football world will be watching, waiting for the moment when Trent Alexander-Arnold steps back onto the Anfield pitch, not as Liverpool’s son, but as Madrid’s star.

The story has all the ingredients of drama. A hero turned rival. A club in transition. Fans torn between love and anger. A legend who left for free. A replacement who is already injured. A manager trying to hold it together. A former player urging forgiveness. And the Champions League, the grand stage where emotions explode. This is not just another game. This is a chapter in Liverpool’s history, one that will be talked about for years, one that will test the bond between a club and its people.

For now, Liverpool march on without him, and Madrid prepare with him. The future is uncertain, but the feelings are clear. Dietmar Hamann’s words ring louder than ever: Liverpool miss Trent Alexander-Arnold, and when he comes back, he deserves a hero’s welcome. Whether the Kop agrees or not will only be revealed under the floodlights of Anfield, when history and emotion collide once more.