Arne Slot Affirms Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool is Concentrated on Injury Recovery

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss the upcoming Merseyside derby against Everton tomorrow night.

In a press conference this morning held ahead of the showdown at Anfield, Slot was also questioned regarding reports suggesting the full-back has agreed to a transfer to Real Madrid at the end of the season.

He stated, “Regrettably, Trent is dealing with an injury, otherwise there would likely have been discussions highlighting his impressive performances for the England squad. He is currently focused on his recovery, and we’re committed to supporting him in returning to fitness as quickly as possible.”

“Over the past eight months, there has certainly been some ups and downs surrounding him, Virgil (van Dijk), and Mo (Salah). However, we have not diverted our focus from what needs to be done.”

“For Virgil and Mo, that involves preparing to win the Merseyside derby, while for Trent, it’s about regaining full fitness.”

When asked for an update on the trio and the status of any contract negotiations, Slot remained tight-lipped.

“This situation has been ongoing for eight months now, but all three players have performed admirably under these circumstances, so it hasn’t affected me at all.

“There was a bit of chatter following our defeats to Paris St-Germain and Newcastle. I tend to be rational about these matters. I was slightly more frustrated about the final; we truly did not deserve to win that match.”

Slot does not anticipate any change in tactics from Everton’s manager, David Moyes, for their encounter tomorrow night.

This clash comes just weeks after Liverpool drew 2-2 at Goodison Park.

The Dutch manager added: “I expect things to remain the same, with one exception – Everton players won’t receive the applause and cheers from 50,000 fans when they perform well.”

“In contrast, our players will feel that support for every tackle and pass they make. While the emotions might be different, I expect the same style of play from Everton, as they have consistently shown this for the last nine or ten matches under David Moyes.”

“They haven’t lost in their last nine Premier League fixtures, so it would be surprising if they approached this match differently. Given that we’re currently at the top of the league, it wouldn’t make sense for us to change our game either.”

Slot also revealed that his squad is almost at full fitness, with Ryan Gravenberch now available for selection.

“Ryan Gravenberch is ready to go. Alisson has also trained with us, and we’ll conduct a final assessment later today. Conor Bradley has rejoined us, but he’s only had a few training sessions after an extended absence, so we need to be prudent with his involvement.”

In the previous fixture at Goodison Park, Slot received a red card for his protests at the end of the match. He acknowledged that he cannot guarantee a different response if faced with similar circumstances tomorrow.

“I would be utterly surprised if I experienced another eight minutes filled with so many controversial decisions going against us. If it recurs, I hope my reaction is different, but I can’t make any promises. Nevertheless, I doubt I’ll encounter that again. Football is notoriously unpredictable.”

Liverpool currently holds a 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, and Slot insists the focus is firmly on their remaining nine matches this season.

Having been knocked out of the Champions League and losing the Carabao Cup final in quick succession, Slot is delighted with the resilience his players have shown in bouncing back from those setbacks.

He concluded this morning: “In my view, the players look refreshed.”

“However, it hasn’t been all doom and gloom. We faced a strong Newcastle team in the final and played well against Paris St-Germain, despite losing on penalties. We delivered our best performance, in my opinion.”

“Now, we are facing nine finals ahead of us. These fixtures are critical, starting with Everton. Not just because it’s the Merseyside derby, but due to our strong position in the league.”