How big a difference can a year make? There are only nearly 20 days left until it is exactly a year since Liverpool won the 20th Premier League title, a feat with a strong mark of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz. Now, they are preparing to face each other in Real Madrid and Bayern Munich colors in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Alexander-Arnold, the native hero in that year's championship, quickly became a "villain" after only a week. The decision to leave the childhood team when his contract expired to join a European power - a club that has repeatedly brought sorrow to Liverpool - made a part of fans feel betrayed.
At the age of 26, he has not yet reached the peak of his career but left for a fee much lower than his real value. And if there is no FIFA Club World Cup schedule factor, Liverpool may even lose him for free. That is clearly not a smooth farewell.
In stark contrast, two months later, Diaz left Anfield in the understanding of fans. At nearly 30 years old, at the peak of his form and with less than two years of contract left, it is considered reasonable for him to be sold for £65.5 million. Although Diaz also actively sought a way out beforehand, he did not face the wave of criticism like Alexander-Arnold.
The story of these two deals quickly reflected on the pitch. At Bayern, Diaz made almost immediate influence. He scored in all 3 of his first matches in the Bundesliga, starting with the decisive goal in the German Super Cup.
The first season in Bavaria witnessed him contributing 22 goals and 18 assists in all competitions, becoming the attacking spearhead second only to Harry Kane - who is leading the European Golden Boot race. Diaz's ability to create breakthroughs is something Liverpool has clearly lacked in the current season.
Conversely, Alexander-Arnold is facing the risk of becoming a new example of "the grass not being greener on the other side", like Philippe Coutinho, Georginio Wijnaldum or Sadio Mane before. At Santiago Bernabeu, his defensive limitations are clearly exposed, causing fans to question whether he should be pulled up to play midfielder - a debate that has existed since he was at Liverpool.
While Diaz is almost certain to start at Bayern, Alexander-Arnold has to compete for the right-back position with Dani Carvajal and even Federico Valverde. Injuries and unstable form have caused him to only play full 90 minutes four times in La Liga this season.
However, in the Champions League - a more familiar arena - he is still trusted. Alexander-Arnold started both matches against Benfica and Manchester City in the knockout round, contributing to helping Real Madrid go deep. This opens up the possibility that Alexander-Arnold will continue to be chosen in the confrontation with Bayern, where he will directly face Diaz.
The advantage of the English defender lies in his clear understanding of the opponent. After more than 3 years of training together at Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold is one of the few full-backs with enough experience to limit Diaz's attacking power.
In the context that Alvaro Arbeloa's team needs the Champions League to salvage the season after a stumble against Mallorca that left them 7 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, this confrontation becomes even more important.
On the other side, Kane may be able to return in time after an ankle injury, but it is difficult to reach his best condition after more than two weeks of rest. That means the pressure to score goals will fall more on Diaz's shoulders.
If Real Madrid can neutralize the Colombian player, they will have a great advantage in controlling the game. For Alexander-Arnold, this is an opportunity for him to prove his worth and overcome doubts in Spain.
However, the opposite scenario is entirely possible. Diaz may continue his sublime form and cause his former teammate to suffer a painful defeat.
Regardless of the result, this quarter-final match is likely to become a turning point. Either Alexander-Arnold's affirmation at Real Madrid, or the end of Diaz's almost perfect season.
