Trent Alexander-Arnold lasts just five minutes on Real Madrid CL debut after injury

Trent Alexander-Arnold's Champions League debut for Real Madrid turned into a nightmare as he was forced off the pitch due to an injury just five minutes into the game. The 26-year-old, who had only started two of Madrid's first four La Liga games, pulled his hamstring during the early stages of Tuesday's match against Marseille at the Bernabeu.

His chances of playing in the upcoming Champions League match against his former team, Liverpool, are now seriously threatened. Alexander-Arnold is set to return to Anfield for the first time since his controversial departure at the end of last season.

The highly anticipated match between these top-seeded teams is scheduled for November 4. Both teams will be vying for automatic qualification, with Liverpool having finished at the top of the league phase last season.

Alexander-Arnold felt his right hamstring pull after playing a pass just two minutes and 40 seconds into the game. The right-back immediately sat down on the pitch, signalling for medical attention from Madrid's staff.

It quickly became clear that Alexander-Arnold would not be able to continue the match. He was replaced by Dani Carvajal, who had started in Madrid's 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday, maintaining their flawless start to the season.

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Xabi Alonso recently talked up his replacement, saying: "There's one aspect that hasn't changed much: the competitive gene he [Carvajal] has. Because he came in 2013-14 and he already had it. Since he arrived from Bayer Leverkusen, he was very important, and that first season... he gave us so much, even winning the Champions League.

"Over the years, that hasn't changed much, but his personality, maturity, influence; what it means to be a captain with his experience, as well as the respect his teammates have for him and what he has to transmit, that responsibility he has towards the group, is something that has evolved.

"Those leaders we have to keep... not building, but flourishing within a locker room, are fundamental. Carva is one of them, although there are many others we need to create a strong core, to pull the rest together. With Carva, you see that over time, he's embraced it, just like others did and those he saw. Now, it's his turn."