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 reviews have recommended Alexander-Arnold will finish his 21-year affiliation with Liverpool and be part of Actual Madrid when his contract expires on the finish of the season, however the 26-year-old may 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 reveals his dedication,” mentioned Slot, whose facet will win 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 onerous 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 reveals me what an important soccer participant he’s. He’s labored so onerous throughout the entire season – and now throughout his rehab – to be again along with his staff once more.
“Everybody who’s watched soccer for the final 5, six or seven years is aware of he’s an unimaginable full-back. He’s been an unimaginable full-back for this soccer membership and let’s see what the long run 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 high flight and the final 16 in Europe.
The wideman has contributed three targets and 7 assists in all competitions however has missed Liverpool’s final three league video games with an ankle damage.
It was all the time Liverpool ❤️ pic.twitter.com/uXtvDKN8CG
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 17, 2025
“If issues go nicely, he is likely to be on the bench,” Slot mentioned of Alexander-Arnold’s health after the Liverpudlian rejoined coaching on Wednesday.
“He undoubtedly received’t begin however, hopefully, he’ll have the ability to be part of us, as a result of he’s been out for a very long time. Will probably be good if Trent is with us.”
Virgil van Dijk: Gravenberch ‘nice instance’
Days after high scorer Mohamed Salah signed a brand new long-term contract on the membership, captain Virgil van Dijk adopted go well with on Thursday to go away Alexander-Arnold as the one star participant within the squad nonetheless to agree phrases past this summer season.
Slot mentioned it was “tough to explain” the centre-back’s affect on and off the pitch and cited the Netherlands worldwide’s influence on younger gamers similar to Ryan Gravenberch, who has benefitted from Van Dijk’s expertise throughout a season during which the midfielder has began each league sport.
Made us soar, too! 😅 pic.twitter.com/aQdoVg7bHg
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 18, 2025
“I haven’t labored with a participant like him, by way of management and the power he brings to the staff in each coaching session and the way skilled he’s,” Slot mentioned of Van Dijk.
“Ryan is a superb instance – [Van Dijk’s] consistently on him, making an attempt to make him much more of knowledgeable 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 onerous for gamers to come back again instantly to their previous stage,” Slot defined. “If he stays match, I see no purpose 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 maintain our greatest gamers, who’ve been nice for thus a few years now,” he added. “To have the ability to maintain them when they’re free brokers tells you the ambition we’ve got.
“It’s good that we’ve executed two bulletins and we may discuss that for hours, nevertheless it’s the identical [contract situation with] Trent.”
Leicester vs Liverpool
Liverpool are heading in the right direction for one of many earliest title wins in historical past as a part of a massively spectacular first season in English soccer for Slot.
They’re 13 points above the Gunners with a big purpose 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 an instantaneous relegation if they don’t beat the guests.
