Former Liverpool player Robbie Fowler believes Liverpool can use Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return to their “advantage” by making the atmosphere “more intense” for Tuesday’s Champions League visit of Real Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold is set to return to Anfield for the first time since his summer transfer to Madrid.
The English full-back has featured just four times for Los Blancos in the league so far this season after picking up a hamstring injury in September.
However, Alexander-Arnold has returned to the bench in their last two games, and has the chance to start against his former club.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Trent. I don’t want them to get a result obviously, but I appreciate he was and still is a world class player, and a big miss for Liverpool,” Robbie Fowler told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“We can all have opinions on what we should do, but I think the majority will understand and respect what he did for Liverpool.
“I think they’ll let their feelings be known, and give him a bit of a hard time.
“Liverpool could use that to their advantage, it could be used to inspire the crowd and make the atmosphere a little bit more intense as Liverpool get into Real Madrid on the front foot.”
BBC Sport’s chief football writer Phil McNulty believes Alexander-Arnold can expect a mixed greeting if he does feature against his boyhood club.
“I suspect it will be mixed. When he announced last season he was leaving, many fans made their feelings clear when he was brought on as a sub against Arsenal with loud booing,” McNulty told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Feelings were hurt, he was a local boy and part of a great Liverpool team, and he left at the end of his contract.
“Emotions are running high, plenty will welcome him, but I suspect a few others might not.”
