Trent Alexander-Arnold vs Marcus Rashford: A Rivalry Renewed

El Clasico is arguably world football’s most renowned fixture, littered with the planet’s best players fighting for the biggest prizes against a backdrop of intense history. Real Madrid currently sit top, with champions Barcelona second, 2 points behind.

It’s a must watch for all football fans, but for those in the UK, the first El Clasico of 2025/26 has a further element of intrigue. English stars will directly face off in Spain’s headline fixture for the first time ever, as Trent Alexander-Arnold, joining another England star in Jude Bellingham in Madrid, renews a rivalry with Marcus Rashford. A rivalry that first kicked off seven years ago in England’s own juggernaut clash, Liverpool-Manchester United.

Ahead of the first LALIGA game between the two, and the first of La Liga 2025/26, available to watch live in the UK on Sunday 26th October at 3:15pm via Premier Sports, we analyse Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marcus Rashford’s start to life in Spain’s topflight, as well as their head-to-head record to date.

The Start to Life in Spain 

The pair are both navigating the first season abroad of their careers. Rashford came to Spain with the goal of re-establishing his impressive yet sometimes turbulent career under the highly regarded Hansi Flick. His new manager is quoted as saying “before the start of the season, [Director of Football] Deco and I said we needed a player like him”. 

So far he has managed to show the Spanish giants his value, scoring once and assisting three times in La Liga as well as making an impact on the European stage, scoring twice away at Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League. In all competitions, Rashford has the most goal contributions in Barcelona’s squad.

Trent looks to take his career from strength-to-strength following a title winning departure at Liverpool. His early months haven’t been plain sailing under Xabi Alonso, with injury troubles and contention for his spot with Real Madrid’s captain Dani Carvajal resulting in just four La Liga appearances to date. That’s set to change in time for El Clasico, as a return to fitness corresponds with Carvajal navigating his own time in the treatment room.

Trent may well have an early point to prove in the white of Madrid, and an El Clasico clash against his old adversary could just be the perfect stage. Marcus Rashford will have other ideas.

Rashford’s Early Dominance

There can be little doubt the early clashes were dominated by Marcus Rashford. The first meeting, in October 2018, resulted in a 2-1 victory for United with Rashford scoring both, winning the Player of the Match award with a 9 rating (Daily Mail), and generally running his opponent ragged.

The corresponding fixture that season saw Trent miss out, so the pair wouldn’t face each other again until October 2019. The second meeting – while not resulting in another United win – saw Rashford take charge over Trent again in an eventual 1-1 draw. Rashford once more scored and won Player of the Match.

Trent Asserts Himself 

A third meeting in January 2021 ended in a largely uneventful 0-0 draw as Trent achieved his first clean sheet against his fellow countryman while failing to register going the other way.

That would change in May 2021, the fourth head-to-head. Alexander-Arnold picked up a 9 rating (Sky Sports) while registering his first assist against Rashford’s United, a pinpoint cross for Roberto Firmino to head in a second Liverpool goal on the night. Another Rashford strike failed to help United in an eventual 4-2 defeat.

The 2021/22 season was dominated by Trent’s Liverpool. Across two more head-to-heads, Trent played the full 180 mins, while Rashford clocked up 152 minutes, as Liverpool won with an aggregate score of 9-0. Alexander-Arnold assisted once with an average performance rating across the two games of 7.5 compared to Rashford’s 3.5 (The Guardian, Squawka).

Rashford would avenge this early the following season, as another goal against Trent at Old Trafford helped United on their way to a 2-1 win. Rashford has consistently been unable to replicate this feat at Anfield, however. In the next fixture at Liverpool’s home against Trent, he would be substituted on 85 minutes with his side 6-0 down in an eventual 7-0 mauling – a joint worst result in United history as Trent starred alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah.

Recent Memory 

Last season, the England teammates met twice, including for a first time outside a Liverpool vs Manchester United fixture, as Rashford made a January loan move to Aston Villa. Before that move, Trent enjoyed a rare clean sheet against Rashford at Old Trafford as Liverpool won 3-0. A VAR review denied Trent a first goal when facing Rashford.

Trent would put himself on the scoresheet when facing Rashford a few months later at Villa Park. Alexander-Arnold equaliser for Liverpool in a 2-2 draw which included an 8 rating (Sky Sports) for Rashford, as the most recent clash well and truly ended honours even. Now, all eyes turn to the Santiago Bernabéu.

Trent Alexander-Arnold vs Marcus Rashford | Key statistics from 11 Head-to-Heads to date: 

Wins: Trent 5-2 Rashford (4 draws) 

Goals: Trent 1-4 Rashford 

Assists: Trent 2-0 Rashford 

POTM: Trent 0-2 Rashford 

Average performance rating: Trent 6.6 – 5.5 Rashford 

Player ratings sourced from match reports across Daily Mail, Sky Sports, The Guardian, Squawka, 90min, One Football, Metro 

Trent Alexander Arnold vs Marcus Rashford | Game-by-game break down: 

03/10/2018: Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool 

20/10/2019: Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool 

17/01/2021: Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United 

13/05/2021: Manchester United 2-4 Liverpool 

24/10/2021: Manchester United 0-5 Liverpool 

19/04/2022: Liverpool 4-0 Manchester United 

22/08/2022: Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool 

05/03/2023: Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United  

17/12/2023: Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United 

01/09/2024: Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool 

19/02/2025: Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool 

To watch the Trent Alexander-Arnold vs Marcus Rashford rivalry continue in LALIGA, you can watch El Clasico live in the UK on Sunday 26th October at 3:15pm via Premier Sports.