Why Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich could hinge on an intriguing Liverpool reunion

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Diaz was nearing his 30s, in his prime but at a point where his return on investment was probably at its peak, especially considering he had less than two years left on his contract. He’s gone on to net 22 goals and bag 18 assists across all competitions in a spellbinding first campaign in Bavaria; his ability to single-handedly change the game in a moment has been sorely missed during Liverpool’s dire title defence.

In the toxic cauldron of the Santiago Bernabeu, his defensive shortcomings that were always central to the arguments of his critics have translated into the Spanish game; it didn’t take long for fans to wonder whether then-manager Xabi Alonso should move him into midfield, a debate inherited from his Liverpool days.So while Diaz is a nailed-on starter at Bayern, Alexander-Arnold’s inconsistency - compounded by injuries - has left him in a three-way battle for the right-back spot this season, mostly with veteran Dani Carvajal but also versatile midfielder Federico Valverde, who even when Carvajal was unavailable was sometimes preferred to the Englishman. Alexander-Arnold is yet to truly announce himself for Los Blancos but against Diaz, one of the continent’s most prolific players and a man he knows all too well, an opportunity to do so has presented itself.Alexander-Arnold will know Diaz’s playbook, having trained against him for over three years.

Alexander-Arnold (left) and Diaz during their Liverpool days (Getty Images)And thanks to favourable circumstances, this could be the difference-maker for Alvaro Arbeloa’s side, who are very much leaning on the Champions League to turn their season around after the weekend’s shock defeat to Mallorca left them seven points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona.Bayern marksman Kane might just make fitness for the first leg following his late withdrawal from the England camp with a minor ankle injury, but he won’t be at peak match sharpness after 16 days without a minute. There is a real possibility that the opposite could be true - that both players stay on the same track their campaigns have so far taken and Alexander-Arnold is undone by his former colleague, suffering a home humiliation he might not be able to recover from, two months before he is inevitably snubbed from England’s World Cup squad.