Trent, Konaté and Jones: a piece of Anfield returns to the Bernabéu

A little more than a year after Liverpool began to break apart, three former teammates will meet again at the Santiago Bernabéu. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konaté will face Curtis Jones when Real Madrid host Inter, bringing a piece of Anfield back together through the Champions League.

They shared four seasons, trophies and European nights at Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold and Jones came through the club’s academy and represented its local roots, while Konaté joined from Leipzig in 2021. Together, they were part of a generation that won a Premier League title, an FA Cup and two League Cups.

Their paths have now separated. Alexander-Arnold and Konaté exchanged Liverpool red for Real Madrid white, while Jones moved to Inter this summer. They return to the same stadium in different circumstances, however.

Konaté has quickly claimed a place in Real Madrid’s defense. Mourinho has paired him with Dean Huijsen, and the two have formed a powerful and mobile partnership capable of defending far from their own goal. Their performances have pushed Antonio Rüdiger aside while Éder Militão remains injured. Konaté has played every minute in three of the four league rounds, sitting out only the match against Málaga.

Alexander-Arnold has had a more difficult start. He arrived with a reputation for controlling play from the flank, but Denzel Dumfries currently leads the contest for the right-back position. Alexander-Arnold started only against Málaga and came off the bench in the other three matches. His long passing and vision remain valuable, and the suspensions of Güler, Camavinga and Bernardo Silva could give him an opportunity in midfield, a role he previously filled for Liverpool and England.

Curtis Jones also arrives without having secured a regular starting role. His move to Inter has separated the three former Liverpool players, but the Champions League has brought them together again almost immediately.