Spanish media savage Trent Alexander-Arnold, claiming former Liverpool defender is ‘fragile’ and ‘erratic’

The Spanish press this morning slammed Trent Alexander-Arnold for his performance in Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw with Elche last night, with AS claiming the England full-back’s level is “far below expectations”.

Alexander-Arnold played the full 90 minutes as Madrid twice came from behind to earn a point at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, Jude Bellingham netting an 87th-minute equaliser for Xabi Alonso’s side.

The draw saw Madrid move a point clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga but the performance of Alexander-Arnold, who squandered possession 25 times, has come under the microscope.

Under the headline, “Trent, under scrutiny”, AS went in hard on the former Liverpool defender.

Journalist Sergio Lopez wrote: “When he had to go at full speed, Trent derailed. And this issue is starting to become a worry. His level is far below the expectations of his signing, [far below] the performances he gave Liverpool and England. But above all, they are very far from being that of a starting right-back for Real Madrid. 

“Erratic with the ball, sending in an excess of crosses and fragile in duels.”

Alexander-Arnold struggling to capitalise on opportunity

With Dani Carvajal set to miss the rest of 2025 and the bulk of January 2026 after undergoing knee surgery, Alexander-Arnold has the opportunity to nail down the right-back berth at the Santiago Bernabeu.

But he will have to defend better than he did last night. He was particularly culpable for Elche’s first, allowing Aleix Febas to run behind him and slot neatly past Thibaut Courtois.

Alexander-Arnold’s disappointment was clear in the aftermath as he hammered the ball away in frustration.

“The rage with which he hit the ball is the perfect reflection of someone who wanted to avoid what happened in every possible way,” added Lopez.

“But it happened. They got round the back of him and he could not correct it. It wasn’t his night.”

Alexander-Arnold labelled ‘predictable and erratic’

Alexander-Arnold’s range of passing, and crossing, became his trademark at Liverpool, but even that is faltering right now, according to Lopez.

“While it’s true that corners are also included, the difference in the numbers is abysmal,” he wrote. “Trent put in 18 crosses, while the next highest, Alvaro Carreras, managed just three.

“He [Trent] is evidence of a player with an exquisite ability to put in crosses, but whose practice ended up being predictable. And erratic.”

Alexander-Arnold will likely start when Madrid go to Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday night but will hope for a better performance.

“He needs time, and he will get it,” said Lopez. “But for now, he is under scrutiny.”