MADRID -- Xabi Alonso said Trent Alexander-Arnold is "ready" to start for Real Madrid at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday after recovering from injury and enduring a hostile reception at Anfield in midweek.

Alexander-Arnold played nine minutes in Madrid's 1-0 defeat to Liverpool -- being booed by the crowd on his return to his boyhood club -- in his first appearance since September, after suffering a hamstring injury.

The England international has played a total of just 165 minutes for Madrid so far this season, as he faces competition from Dani Carvajal -- now injured -- and midfielder Federico Valverde at right-back.

"Yes, [Trent] is ready, he's been training for a few weeks," Alonso said in a news conference on Saturday. "Tomorrow you'll know if he starts or not ... In the circ

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