The in-form Real Madrid visit the out-of-sorts Liverpool in the fourth gameweek of the Champions League.
The return of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Anfield has been one of the major talking points, but he is far from the first player to play for both European heavyweights.
These are the 11 players to have played for both Real Madrid and Liverpool.
Steve McManaman
The first player to cross the divide, Steve McManaman was a trailblazer for English players abroad.
The English winger was incredibly popular at Anfield, winning the FA Cup and League Cup during his nine year stint at the club throughout the 1990s.
In 1999, he completed one of the most high-profile free transfers of all time with the move to Real Madrid, who at the time were experiencing a period of transition. The move was an instant success, with Madrid winning the Champions League in McManaman’s first season. He became the first Englishman to win the competition with a foreign club.
Nicolas Anelka
Anelka’s time at both Real Madrid and Liverpool was fleeting, no surprise for the player who represented 12 different clubs throughout his career.
His highlight from his time at either club was winning the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2000. Despite starting in the final, he moved to PSG later that summer before joining Liverpool on loan the season after.
Fernando Morientes
Another one to have played in the Champions League winning Madrid side of 1999/2000.
Morientes was a prolific scorer for Real Madrid, forming a deadly partnership with Raúl that delivered three Champions League titles and two La Liga trophies.
The arrival of Ronaldo curtailed Morientes’ minutes, and after a short loan to Monaco he made the permanent move to join Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool, although he was never able to replicate the goalscoring form that made him so deadly in his earlier time at Real.
Michael Owen
Liverpool’s golden boy of the late 90s and early 00s.
Michael Owen was the Kylian Mbappé of his day, combining electric pace with deadly finishing. Across 297 games for Liverpool, he scored 158 goals, contributed 51 assists and won the Ballon d’Or in 2001. Since 1998, Owen had been Liverpool’s top scorer in every season until his departure
His high-profile move to Real Madrid never quite hit the heights that were hoped, despite scoring 16 in his one and only season in Spain before he returned to the Premier League with Newcastle.
Antonio Núñez
Signed from Real Madrid as part of the Michael Owen deal in 2004, Núñez had a short but memorable stint at Liverpool.
His one goal came in the League Cup final defeat to Chelsea and he won a Champions League medal, despite remaining on the bench for the infamous Istanbul comeback.
Jerzy Dudek
One of Anfield’s most popular ever goalkeepers, Dudek is fondly remembered for his double save and wobbly legs in the 2005 Champions League final.
After six years at Liverpool, he moved to Real Madrid in 2007 to serve as Iker Casillas’ backup.
Álvaro Arbeloa
A product of the Real Madrid academy, Arbeloa joined Liverpool in 2007 following a season at Deportivo La Coruña. He was a solid and dependable full-back during the Benítez era, predominantly deployed on the right but famously played left-back against Barcelona when he successfully kept Lionel Messi quiet.
After two seasons at Anfield, Arbeloa returned to Real Madrid where he made over 200 appearances across both sides of the defence.
Xabi Alonso
One of the most stylish and effective midfielders of his generation, Alonso is fondly remembered by both sets of fans.
At Anfield, the midfield partnership he formed with Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard remains one of the most balanced trios ever to grace the Premier League.
Alonso won a Champions League with both Liverpool and Real Madrid, either side of his World Cup and two European Champion trophies with Spain.
Nuri Şahin
Şahin’s best moments came at Borussia Dortmund; he struggled to make an impact at either Real Madrid or Liverpool during short spells at both clubs.
Fabinho
The Brazilian enforcer had a short loan spell at Real Madrid Castilla, which resulted in one substitute appearance for the first team.
Following five successful seasons at Monaco, Fabinho made the move to Liverpool where he won the Champions League in his first season. His performances were widely lauded; predominantly at the base of midfield but occasionally at centre-back or right-back.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
The latest in a long-line of stars to play for both Real Madrid and Liverpool.
Having won two Premier League titles and a Champions League, Trent moved on a free transfer to Real Madrid.
His career in Spain has so far been hampered by a hamstring injury, but he has recently returned to the matchday squad and could make a substitute appearance at Anfield tonight.
