Articles by Amie Wilson

Technology

Unseen tunnel footage of Florian Wirtz and Xabi Alonso who didn't know cameras were rolling

Liverpool's summer recruit Florian Wirtz had a heartfelt reunion with his former boss Xabi Alonso in the tunnel after the Reds' Champions League triumph over Real Madrid . Alonso wasn't the only ex-Red making a return, as Trent Alexander-Arnold was met with a frosty reception during his first match back at Anfield on Tuesday night. The Reds were aiming to keep up their momentum following last weekend's 2-0 Premier League victory against Aston Villa . They managed to do just that, with Alexis Mac Allister's goal in the 61st minute proving decisive, it continues the signs of improvement after a challenging period under Arne Slot . The win propels Liverpool to sixth place in the Champions League league table, having secured three victories and suffered one defeat in their first four matches. It also marks the second time in two years that they've beaten Real Madrid in the tournament. Tuesday's match saw a few players coming up against familiar faces. Among them were summer signings Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, who faced off against Alonso, their former manager during a successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen. Both Liverpool stars experienced the pinnacle of their careers under the Spanish manager, clinching the Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season, momentarily disrupting Bayern Munich's reign in Germany. All three moved on from the club this summer. A heartwarming moment was captured in the tunnel by Spanish outlet El Desmarque, showing a close-knit interaction between Alonso, Wirtz and Frimpong. Alonso warmly embraced Wirtz, keeping his arm around him as they chatted. The trio were seen deep in conversation before Wirtz appeared to hand over a Liverpool shirt to Alonso, highlighting the strong bond between the former manager and his ex-players, despite the disappointing result for his team. The moment comes amidst rumours that Alonso had hoped to reunite with Wirtz at Real Madrid this summer. However, Liverpool won the race, securing Wirtz's signature in a whopping £116 million deal. Since his move, Wirtz has found it challenging to make a significant impact and has occasionally been relegated to the bench. He did, however, return to the starting lineup against Real Madrid, playing 88 minutes of the match. Another reunion took place on the night, with Alexander-Arnold returning to Anfield after his summer transfer to Real Madrid. The full-back, who had been sidelined due to injury, came on for the final nine minutes of the game. After being booed onto the pitch, he couldn't help his new team level the score, with Liverpool securing a crucial three points. Slot's team are bracing themselves for another tough challenge, as they prepare to face Manchester City on Sunday in a bid to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal before the international break. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Technology

Trent Alexander-Arnold sums up Liverpool feelings in one word before Real Madrid clash

Trent Alexander-Arnold has delivered a heartfelt message as he prepares to face Liverpool for the first time since his departure, ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League encounter between the Reds and Real Madrid . The right-back made the switch from Liverpool to the Bernabeu last summer when his Anfield contract expired. The Reds secured a transfer fee as Real paid to finalise the deal before the summer's Club World Cup. Throughout his final campaign at the club, where he contributed to Liverpool's Premier League triumph, rumours surrounding Alexander-Arnold's future were constant. Following the official announcement of his departure in May, he was met with jeers from sections of the home crowd when he came on as a substitute against Arsenal . A warmer welcome came when Liverpool celebrated their Premier League success against Crystal Palace later that month in what was his farewell appearance for the club. Tonight's homecoming could prove more hostile. Before the match, the 27-year-old has shared his emotions through a simple Instagram story post. The defender uploaded a picture of himself touching down in England with the Madrid squad, accompanied by the caption: "Home" alongside a location pin emoji. The ex-Liverpool star's season has so far been hampered by a hamstring problem . The injury means his most recent outing for Madrid dates back to September. He has, though, been named among the substitutes for the previous two La Liga fixtures. "Whichever way I'm received is the decision of the fans. I'll always love the club, I'll always be a fan of the club," he said ahead of the match . "I'll always be thankful for the opportunities and the things we achieved together, they'll live with me forever. No matter what, my feelings won't change towards Liverpool. I've got memories there that will last me a lifetime, and no matter how I'm received, that won't change. "It's mixed emotions. It will be a very, very difficult game, but one that I'm excited for. A huge game and a huge stage to go and try to perform. "It will be a big difference walking into the away changing room, warming up on the other side, everything will feel a lot different to me." Alexander-Arnold came up through the youth teams at Liverpool. He made his first team debut in 2016 and went on to play 354 times for Liverpool, before moving away from the club in the summer. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.