Xabi Alonso could implement a host of quickfire tactical tweaks on his Real Madrid squad.
The former Spain international has agreed a three-year contract to lead his old side following Carlo Ancelotti's exit in May.
The premise of Alonso's arrival is to breath fresh life into Ancelotti's squad to ensure they challenge Barcelona domestically and launch a UEFA Champions League title push in 2025/26.
His tenure kicked off with a low-key 1-1 FIFA Club World Cup draw against Al Hilal in Miami on June 18 with Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold handed starting debuts.
The pair joined as part of a double Premier League transfer raid at the start of June and Alonso is working on other deals to be wrapped up after the USA tournament.
Trent started in his usual right-back spot, with Huijsen deployed centrally alongside Raul Asencio, and Fran Garcia at left-back.
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The former Liverpooldefender was replaced by Lucas Vazquez on 65 minutes, as old questions over his defensive abilities resurfaced, with Alonso facing a key decision.
Where will Trent play at Real Madrid?
The debate over Trent's best position raged constantly during his time at Anfield with the attack-minded full-back hailed for his creative qualities - and criticised for his lack of defensive instincts - in equal measure on Merseyside.
The reality lies somewhere in the middle, with the forward-thinking side of his game a clear strong point, but the 26-year-old has worked to sharpen up defensively.
Both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot rejected calls to play him in midfield, with the 'risk' viewed as worth taking, but Alonso will seek a hybrid.
The initial plan was to stick with Ancelotti's 4-3-3 system for the time being before transferring to a version of his Bayer Leverkusen 3-4-2-1 in the months ahead.
However, that could be fast tracked, with Trent moved to the right-side of a midfield four - effectively as a wing back.
Antonio Rudiger, Huijsen and Dani Carvajal are tipped to be back three which provides a solid base to work from.
Alonso is still chasing Benfica star Alvaro Carreras - to fill the left flank - but the biggest knock-on could be on Trent's England colleague Jude Bellingham.
Bellingham smashed in a sensational tally of 23 goals in his debut 2023/24 season, effectively as a 'false 9' in between Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes.
Kylian Mbappe's arrival last summer saw that tweaked, as he pulled back to a No.10 role, but still managed to score 14 goals in all competitions.
The former Borussia Dortmund star now looks set to move into a more traditional central midfield spot [as a No.8] alongside Fede Valverde to utilise his all-round abilities - which will likely impact his goal numbers in the months ahead - but with the intention of unlocking Trent to create for Mbappe and Vini Jr.
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