Liverpool continues to be linked with a possible return for Trent Alexander-Arnold in the transfer market, with opinion split about a move for the academy graduate

Former Liverpool star Dean Saunders claims that supporters would "absolutely" take Trent Alexander-Arnold back at Anfield, should a return become possible, as the Real Madrid ace faces a potentially uncertain future in the Spanish capital.

The right-back has struggled to assert himself into Jose Mourinho's plans so far this season, with the likes of Denzel Dumfries and Federico Valverde seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order as things stand.

That has brought about doubts surrounding Alexander-Arnold and his long-term plans at the Bernabeu, as it appears as though his hopes of being one of the best players in the world has diminished to fighting for places in the team.

There has naturally been some talk of an exit in the coming transfer windows as a result, with plenty of teams seemingly tracking the England international's movements to understand whether a switch would be possible.

Among those, according to some reports, is Liverpool. A return to Anfield could help solve some concerns on the right flank that have been present since the academy graduate's exit, though there are also some doubts surrounding whether a move back to Merseyside would be the right thing to do.

There are debates about how the star left the club, with some fans feeling uneasy about his decision to run down his contract to secure a move, along with the reveal that he had been learning Spanish for months to help prepare for the switch.

While some, like Steven Gerrard, would take a return for Alexander-Arnold, the jury is still out when it comes to a decision on a return, and whether the supporters at Anfield would truly be open to the move. For Saunders, he believes the answer is a resounding yes, stating that fans would love to have the 28-year-old lining up in red once again.

Speaking to Footy Accumulators, he said: "I think Liverpool fans would absolutely have Trent Alexander-Arnold back at the club. Liverpool played with eight different right-backs last season, including Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, Ryan Gravenberch, and it was quite obvious at the start of the season that Trent was the reason why Liverpool used to make so many chances, he was like a quarterback.

“Salah definitely would have missed him. He could hit a 50-yard ball onto Diaz’s chest. He played in-field, didn’t he, and Salah played outside him. Then Frimpong signed, and he’s playing outside Salah, on the touchline, high and wide. Liverpool lost a lot when he left. But the obvious question mark is his defending, but then you ask, who’s a better defender than him? None of them are the best defenders.

“When I was watching the game against Arsenal and there were ten minutes to go, Rio Ngumoha came on on the right, with Victor Munoz behind him. I just thought Liverpool were missing that quality ball from Trent – he’s irreplaceable.”

It's a position that Liverpool has certainly struggled in since Alexander-Arnold's exit, though there may be some further debate about a return while Ronald Araujo impresses in that position, and Conor Bradley is closing in on a long-awaited return from injury.

The other factor to consider would be the price of any deal, as Real Madrid may also look to maximize any exit, which would then lead to questions about how comfortable the Reds would be about parting with a large sum of money for an academy graduate to return.

It remains to be seen what will follow for Alexander-Arnold, in what appears to be an awkward situation that has no easy solution in the short-term, and no clear answer on Liverpool's own best course of action.