Trent Alexander-Arnold marked his return to Liverpool in style by scoring the winner against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. With Liverpool on the cusp of title, the 26-year-old defender, stepped onto the pitch after a five-and-a-half-week absence due to an ankle injury sustained in a Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Substituted on in the 71st minute for Conor Bradley, who had struggled against Stephy Mavididi, Alexander-Arnold wasted no time making an impact.
Just five minutes after his introduction, in the 76th minute, he scored the goal that secured a 1-0 victory and condemned Leicester to relegation.
The goal was a thing of beauty: after a sequence of near-misses, with Mohamed Salah nudging a Virgil van Dijk header onto the post and Diogo Jota striking the crossbar, the ball fell to Alexander-Arnold following a poor touch from Leicester’s Boubakary Soumare.
Steadying himself, he lashed a fierce left-footed shot—his first-ever left-footed goal for Liverpool—through a crowd of players, past goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, and into the net.
What followed was a celebration that captured the raw emotion of the moment. Alexander-Arnold tossed his shirt aside as he sprinted toward the corner flag. Performing an ill-advised knee-slide on the dry pitch, he soaked up the love of the away fans.
Yet, amid the jubilance, one photograph from this topless celebration sparked controversy. Taken from an unflattering angle, it showed what some fans described as a “flabby” lower abdomen, leading to social media posts claiming that Alexander-Arnold had gained weight during his injury layoff.
Sure, the Scouser has admitted to having a cheeky Nando’s now & then and also about his affinity for Taz bars, but this narrative about weight gain, however, couldn’t be further from the truth.
Alexander-Arnold’s physique has been a topic of discussion for years, reflecting a remarkable weight transformation since his early days at Liverpool.
Till 2019, Trent had a lean build suited to his role as a dynamic right-back with a weight around 66 kgs.
Over the past five years, he has worked diligently to bulk up slightly to improve his strength.
Now in 2025, sources such as EA of FIFA games, put his weight around 72 kgs.
This transformation was no accident; Alexander-Arnold has spoken about his commitment to fitness, incorporating yoga, and stretching into his routine, as well as collaborating with nutritionists and brands like Kinetica Sports to optimize his diet and recovery.
During his recent injury rehab, which sidelined him for over a month, it’s possible he experienced minor weight fluctuations, as reduced activity can affect muscle tone. However, the notion that he “put on the pounds” is a gross exaggeration, fueled by a single misleading image.
The viral photo, which appeared to show a softer midsection, is a classic example of how social media can distort reality.
As anyone with a six-pack can attest, abdominal muscles are not always visible unless flexed, under optimal lighting, or when standing upright.
In the image, Alexander-Arnold was hunching slightly and caught mid-motion, creating the illusion of a “flabby” stomach.
Other photos from the same celebration tell a different story: his tummy appears flatter.
Thus, the photo that sparked a thousand tweets is a lesson in perspective—that even a six-pack can hide in plain sight.
