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Every player to have played for both Liverpool and Real Madrid
When Liverpool and Real Madrid walk out at Anfield on Tuesday night, the headlines will naturally orbit around the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The boy from West Derby, once the creative heartbeat of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, is now wearing Real Madrid white, and his re-emergence on Merseyside for a Champions League night feels like one of football’s great narrative turns.
Yet Alexander-Arnold is not the first to bridge the divide between these two European superpowers. In fact, he becomes the eleventh man to do so. Ten others have worn both crests – some icons, some curios, all part of the intertwined footballing history that binds Liverpool and Madrid.
Xabi Alonso
Now the manager charged with leading Real Madrid into this Anfield showdown, Xabi Alonso’s connection to both clubs is profound.
A Champions League winner with Liverpool in 2005 and one of the finest midfielders of his era, Alonso later moved to Madrid in 2009, becoming the elegant organiser at the base of Jose Mourinho’s midfield.
His vision and press-resistance made him indispensable to both sides and he remains adored on Merseyside and in the Spanish capital alike.
Nicolas Anelka
Anelka’s time at Liverpool was brief but memorable, joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in the latter half of the 2001-02 season and impressing with his pace and link-play.
Years earlier, he had been part of the Real Madrid side that won the 1999-2000 Champions League, scoring crucial knockout goals. His stay in Spain was turbulent, but his talent was unquestionable – a striker whose career touched many giants, including these two.
Alvaro Arbeloa
Arbeloa developed through Real Madrid’s academy before moving to Deportivo La Coruna and then Liverpool in 2007, where he became a reliable and tactically intelligent full-back under Rafa Benitez.
His performances earned him a return to Madrid in 2009, where he went on to win La Liga and the Champions League. Steady, disciplined and versatile, Arbeloa served both clubs with understated excellence.
Jerzy Dudek
A hero in Liverpool’s greatest modern triumph, Dudek’s double save in the 2005 Champions League final is etched into football folklore.
After six years at Anfield, he joined Real Madrid in 2007, primarily as a dependable understudy to Iker Casillas. Though he rarely played in Spain, his professionalism and experience made him a valued figure in the dressing room.
Fabinho
Before becoming a lynchpin of Klopp’s Liverpool, Fabinho spent a short but intriguing spell at Real Madrid. Signed on loan from Rio Ave as a youngster, he made a solitary first-team appearance in 2013.
His career truly ignited later at Monaco, leading to his 2018 move to Liverpool, where he became one of Europe’s premier defensive midfielders and a Champions League winner.
(Getty Images)
Steve McManaman
One of the most successful English players abroad, McManaman left Liverpool in 1999 and became a star in Madrid during the Galacticos era.
His volley in the 2000 Champions League final remains one of the competition’s great goals. A creator at Liverpool and a tactically mature wide midfielder at Madrid, McManaman earned legendary status at both clubs.
Fernando Morientes
A prolific striker for Real Madrid during their early-2000s golden years, Morientes won three Champions League titles and struck up a formidable partnership with Raul.
After falling down the pecking order, he joined Liverpool in 2005. Though he never replicated his Madrid form in England, his pedigree and professionalism stood out in a transitional Liverpool side.
Michael Owen
Owen’s 2001 Ballon d’Or triumph with Liverpool marked him as one of the world’s elite strikers.
His move to Real Madrid in 2004 brought flashes of brilliance – he finished with an impressive goals-per-minute ratio, but he struggled for consistent starts amid Galactico competition. His single season in Spain remains an intriguing chapter in a glittering yet injury-hit career.
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Antonio Nunez
Signed as part of the deal that sent Owen to Madrid, Nunez arrived at Liverpool in 2004.
A squad player rather than a star, he is remembered for scoring in the 2005 League Cup final. At Real Madrid, he had been a Castilla graduate who broke into the first team during an injury-ravaged period, offering work-rate and width when called upon.
Nuri Sahin
Sahin’s career trajectory remains one of football’s great “what ifs”. A Bundesliga star at Dortmund, he struggled with injuries after joining Real Madrid in 2011.
Loaned to Liverpool in 2012, he showed flashes of his class – particularly with his passing and long-range shooting – before returning to Germany. His time at both clubs was short, but his talent was unmistakable.
Full Champions League fixture list for Matchday 4
Tuesday 4 November
- Napoli vs Eintracht Frankfurt
- Slavia Prague vs Arsenal
- Atletico Madrid vs Union-SG
- Bodo/Glimt vs Monaco
- Juventus vs Sporting
- Liverpool vs Real Madrid
- Olympiakos vs PSV
- PSG vs Bayern Munich
- Tottenham vs Copenhagen
Wednesday 5 November
- Pafos vs Villarreal
- Qarabag vs Chelsea
- Ajax vs Galatasaray
- Benfica vs Bayer Leverkusen
- Club Brugge vs Barcelona
- Inter Milan vs Kairat
- Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund
- Marseille vs Atalanta
- Newcastle United vs Atletico Bilbao
Visionhaus/Getty Images
How to watch the Champions League in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high-definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, offering differing selections of sports in each. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
