A minor muscle issue during the Club World Cup and a shortened pre-season due to Madrid's participation in the tournament have impacted Alexander-Arnold's preparation for the new season. He started all five Club World Cup games and impressed in his debut against Al-Hilal, but has since been benched in favor of Dani Carvajal, who was injured during the tournament.

Carvajal's return to the team has limited Alexander-Arnold's playing time, with the coach, Xabi Alonso, opting to start Carvajal in the last four games. Alonso has stated that changes in the lineup depend on the team's needs and the opposition, and hasn't ruled out using Alexander-Arnold in the future.

There have been discussions about Alexander-Arnold playing in midfield, a position he has experience in from his time at Liverpool and with the national team. However, Alonso believes Alexander-Arnold's skills make him a valuable asset as a full-back, and the team is well-covered in midfield with other talented players.

Alexander-Arnold's status with the England national team is also uncertain, with manager Thomas Tuchel choosing not to recall him since June. Tuchel has expressed that Alexander-Arnold is eager to return to the team, but has opted for Chelsea's Reece James instead. It's unclear whether Alexander-Arnold will be included in the World Cup squad next year.

Despite the challenges he has faced, Alexander-Arnold is still early in his time at Real Madrid and is expected to succeed in the long term.