Jurgen Klopp has been keen to take the onus off his in-the-spotlight right-back as Liverpool prepare to take on Real Madrid, but Trent Alexander-Arnold's performance on Tuesday night could determine his club's chances of European glory.
The England international, 24, must put the memory of last season's Champions League final behind him as he renews his rivalry with Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian, 22, ghosted into the box and scored the winner in Paris after a brilliant cross from Federico Valverde to secure a 14th continental crown for Los Blancos.
Alexander-Arnold was seemingly oblivious to Vinicius' cunning movement - and it was not the first time the Selecao star had got the better of him. Back in the 2020/21 season, when Liverpool were in dismal form in the Premier League but reached the Champions League quarter-finals, Vinicius tormented the boyhood red with an electric, two-goal performance from the left wing.
Real Madrid's 3-1 victory in the first leg gave them an unassailable aggregate lead, with Liverpool unable to respond in a goalless draw at Anfield the following week. Vinicius' dominant displays against Alexander-Arnold are often used to fuel the argument that the latter struggles with the defensive side of the game, even though one of his other rivals disagrees with this theory.
As a result, the latest instalment of their contest is sure to be one of the main talking points of Tuesday night's last-16 first leg between the two European giants. Alexander-Arnold has been brilliant in his last two outings, helping the Reds defeat Everton and Newcastle in the top flight, but inconsistency means his season has not been nearly as successful as Vinicius'.
The former Flamengo prodigy has stepped up to become Real Madrid's talisman as Karim Benzema has struggled with injuries, scoring 16 goals and grabbing eight assists in all competitions. Alarmingly for the Anfield faithful, four of his goals came during the Champions League group stage as he picked up where he left off from last season's final.
Adding another dimension to the upcoming clash between Alexander-Arnold and his South American nemesis is the fact he is walking a suspension tightrope. He was booked in Liverpool's group-stage victories over Rangers and Napoli and will be suspended for the second leg against Real Madrid if he is shown a yellow card on Tuesday.
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UEFA rules state that players who receive three yellows in a Champions League campaign must serve a one-match suspension, before all bookings are wiped clean at the start of the semi-final stage. Even though Alexander-Arnold has not been at his best this season, he is irreplaceable for Klopp, especially as back-up right-back Calvin Ramsay will be out for many months after undergoing knee surgery.
Alexander-Arnold avoiding a booking is, therefore, of paramount importance ahead of the return leg at the palatial Santiago Bernabeu on 15 March. But, truth be told, worrying over staying out of the referee's book may be low down the Merseyside native's list of priorities as he duels Vinicius once again.
