Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot has lavished reward on Trent Alexander-Arnold because the England worldwide closes in on an damage comeback earlier than his anticipated departure from the Premier League leaders.
Widespread experiences have steered Alexander-Arnold will finish his 21-year affiliation with Liverpool and be a part of Actual Madrid when his contract expires on the finish of the season, however the 26-year-old might play for the primary time since March 8 when the Reds go to second-bottom Leicester Metropolis on Sunday (16:30 BST).
“Each time he performs and trains with us, he exhibits his dedication,” mentioned Slot, whose aspect will take the title with 5 video games to spare in the event that they win and Arsenal lose at Ipswich City on the identical day (14:00).
🗣️ “He’s labored so laborious throughout the entire season”
Arne Slot feedback on Trent Alexander-Arnold forward of Liverpool’s sport with Leicester 🔴 pic.twitter.com/cIma6HujLD
— Sky Sports activities Information (@SkySportsNews) April 18, 2025
“The second he’s on the pitch, he exhibits me what a terrific soccer participant he’s. He’s labored so laborious throughout the entire season – and now throughout his rehab – to be again along with his crew once more.
“Everybody who’s watched soccer for the final 5, six or seven years is aware of he’s an unbelievable full-back. He’s been an unbelievable full-back for this soccer membership and let’s see what the longer term holds.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold Liverpool stats
Alexander-Arnold has began in 33 of the 38 matches he has been accessible for on this season’s Premier League and Champions League, serving to Slot information his new membership to a near-perfect marketing campaign within the prime flight and the final 16 in Europe.
The wideman has contributed three objectives and 7 assists in all competitions however has missed Liverpool’s final three league video games with an ankle damage.
It was at all times Liverpool ❤️ pic.twitter.com/uXtvDKN8CG
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 17, 2025
“If issues go properly, he may be on the bench,” Slot mentioned of Alexander-Arnold’s health after the Liverpudlian rejoined coaching on Wednesday.
“He positively received’t begin however, hopefully, he’ll have the ability to be a part of us, as a result of he’s been out for a very long time. It is going to be good if Trent is with us.”
Virgil van Dijk: Gravenberch ‘Nice Instance’
Days after prime scorer Mohamed Salah signed a brand new long-term contract on the membership, captain Virgil van Dijk adopted swimsuit on Thursday to go away Alexander-Arnold as the one star participant within the squad nonetheless to agree phrases past this summer time.
Slot mentioned it was “troublesome to explain” the centre-back’s affect on and off the pitch and cited the Netherlands worldwide’s influence on younger gamers reminiscent of Ryan Gravenberch, who has benefitted from Van Dijk’s expertise throughout a season through which the midfielder has began each league sport.
Made us bounce, too! 😅 pic.twitter.com/aQdoVg7bHg
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 18, 2025
“I haven’t labored with a participant like him, when it comes to management and the vitality he brings to the crew in each coaching session and the way skilled he’s,” Slot mentioned of Van Dijk.
“Ryan is a good instance – (Van Dijk’s) continuously on him, attempting to make him much more of an expert than Ryan already is.”
Discussing the important thing parts of the 33-year-old sustaining his efficiency ranges, Slot mentioned the “very first thing” he considered was avoiding accidents.
“If any participant at any age is out for 2 or three months, it’s fairly laborious for gamers to come back again instantly to their outdated stage,” Slot defined. “If he stays match, I see no motive why he would regress.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold contract
Slot mentioned there was no replace on a possible extension of Alexander-Arnold’s deal and reiterated his satisfaction at Salah and Van Dijk staying in his squad.
“It tells you we wish to hold our greatest gamers, who’ve been nice for therefore a few years now,” he added. “To have the ability to hold them when they’re free brokers tells you the ambition now we have.
“It’s good that we’ve performed two bulletins and we might speak about that for hours, nevertheless it’s the identical (contract scenario with) Trent.”
Leicester vs Liverpool
Liverpool are on the right track for one of many earliest title wins in historical past as a part of a vastly spectacular first season in English soccer for Slot.
They’re 13 factors above the Gunners with a big aim superiority in pursuit of changing into champions for the primary time since 2019/20.
Leicester final received a league sport on January 26 and can endure a right away relegation if they don’t beat the guests.
