Alexis Mac Allister has offered a blunt assessment of Liverpool’s recent past, saying “something wasn’t right” in the squad under Arne Slot before praising the impact of the Dutchman’s successor, Andoni Iraola, for correcting it.

Liverpool began the 2025-26 campaign strongly enough to disguise deeper problems, but those issues were closely tied to the tragic death of Diogo Jota the previous summer. The team’s form then unravelled badly, eventually producing their worst run of results since the rationing period in the United Kingdom after the Second World War.

Even after repeatedly insisting his job was secure, Slot was still dismissed once he had done enough to secure Champions League qualification. Iraola, who had finished one place behind Liverpool with Bournemouth on far fewer resources, was appointed soon afterwards.

The transition has not been seamless. Liverpool have moved away from the control-first approach of the previous regime and towards the more chaotic style associated with Iraola. The progress has not followed a straight line, but the overall trend has been upwards.

Mac Allister underlined that change after scoring twice in Tuesday’s 4-3 Champions League win over Villarreal. “Something wasn’t right in the group and this manager changed it,” he told Amazon Prime. “The way we play is different, I don’t like to compare,” he added, while making a fairly stark comparison.

Iraola himself acknowledged there were issues to address when he arrived. “When I came here, the owners told me everything is not perfect,” he admitted.

Defensive structure had clearly been one of the main concerns. Liverpool’s total of 53 Premier League goals conceded was their worst in the competition since 1993-94.

Iraola’s answer has been a major tactical overhaul. Instead of organising Liverpool around set zones within a defined shape, he has asked them to press opponents directly in a man-to-man system.

“Now it’s more man-to-man,” Mac Allister explained. “You have to communicate less. Last year, it was more like a zonal thing. I like both. In the national team, we do zonal and it works. It’s about us taking the responsibility. It’s one of the changes. Now it’s easier, you think less but run more.”

Just weeks after saying farewell to Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold was unveiled by Real Madrid speaking fluent Spanish and holding a white No. 12 shirt. There was no visible hesitation. At the podium, with reporters and club president Florentino Pérez watching on, he looked ready to leave Anfield behind and step into a new era at the Bernabéu.

Two years on, that promise has not been realised. The player once regarded as the world’s best right back has found life in Madrid far harder than expected, and his progress has stalled badly.

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp summed up Alexander-Arnold’s standing in 2024 when he said: “He is one of these stories that not a lot of clubs can write, but he is someone people will talk about in 20, 30 and 40 years,”

During Klopp’s nine years in charge, Liverpool won eight trophies with Alexander-Arnold in the side, including the 2018–19 Champions League and the 2019–20 Premier League. His right foot became central to that success, through free kicks and long passes that gave Liverpool a unique edge. Even when his defensive limitations were discussed, his creativity usually offset them.

He was also made vice-captain, which seemed to place him on a clear path to the Liverpool armband. A boyhood player who joined at the age of six, he had every reason to become the club’s next leader. Yet the lure of Real Madrid proved stronger, and the debate around his departure grew louder as the 2024–25 season went on and he still had not signed a new deal.

Liverpool were winning the league under Arne Slot, but Alexander-Arnold’s future dominated the conversation. After 20 years and 354 appearances, he left for a different challenge, and the consequences have been severe.

Real Madrid hurried to bring him in before the 2025 Club World Cup, but injury denied him a semifinal appearance against Paris Saint-Germain. That turned out to be an early warning. He made only five appearances in 2025–26 before a hamstring injury in September, then a muscle tear in December, disrupted his season. Real Madrid also lost their La Liga lead, lost the Spanish Super Cup final, dismissed Alonso and exited the Copa del Rey.

By the end of the campaign, Madrid were trophyless and Alexander-Arnold had managed 30 appearances and five assists.

His troubles continued when Thomas Tuchel left him out of England’s 2026 World Cup squad. England finished third without him.

Now, in 2026/27, Alexander-Arnold is still struggling to establish himself. Preseason suggested a reset, especially with Dani Carvajal no longer blocking his route, but José Mourinho has preferred Denzel Dumfries. In Real Madrid’s 11 games this season, Alexander-Arnold has been an unused substitute five times.

Mourinho has also turned to Federico Valverde at right back, a choice that underlines the lack of trust in the Englishman. After the 4–1 win over Sevilla, Mourinho said: “It’s not easy for a coach to leave two quality right backs on the bench, but I thought it would be very useful to have a right back with legs and quality to play behind Endrick.”

The issue is that the explanation fits Dumfries more than Alexander-Arnold. For all the scrutiny he has faced, his attacking quality has never been in doubt. Yet at Real Madrid, that quality is still not enough to secure his place.

Bayern Munich against Arsenal stands as the marquee match of Wednesday’s Champions League programme, and it is easy to see why. Between them, the two clubs offer a remarkable spread of talent, even if injuries and suspensions trim the field of available stars.

With that in mind, here is a fresh look at a combined XI drawn only from the players available for selection, and Arsenal just about come out on top.

In goal, David Raya earns the nod. Manuel Neuer has been carrying a foot injury and remains doubtful, but even if he were fully fit, Raya’s recent level has been enough to place him in most mixed teams. Neuer remains the classic stopper, exceptional at the one job he is there to do, but Raya’s consistency gives Arsenal the edge.

At right-back, Jurrien Timber gets the call ahead of Konrad Laimer. Timber has established himself as one of the game’s top full-backs, and he arrives with the confidence of an assist against Lille in this competition last time out.

Gabriel is an automatic inclusion at centre-back. Arsenal’s defensive structure has been built around him, and he continues to deliver the blend of power, athleticism and technique that makes him such a difficult opponent. Alongside him, Dayot Upamecano is elevated by Vincent Kompany’s influence, with his form now strong enough to place him in the conversation at the very highest level.

On the left, Riccardo Calafiori edges Alphonso Davies. Calafiori’s game has opened up this season, and he is now contributing at both ends rather than only defending.

Joshua Kimmich anchors the midfield with his usual control, while Declan Rice is included after his standout display when these sides met last season, helping Arsenal to a 3-1 win. Aleksandar Pavlović completes the engine room after quietly becoming a major figure in Bayern’s possession game.

Bukayo Saka takes the wing spot, while Michael Olise would have been a strong contender but is suspended. In attack, Harry Kane is the obvious choice. He remains the best striker in the world and has nine goals in 10 games this season, a total that would satisfy most forwards, even if it sits a little below his own standards.