November 22nd 2024.
In Liverpool's previous game, Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered an unfortunate injury that forced him to leave the field early. As the team prepares for their upcoming Premier League match against Southampton, manager Arne Slot has provided an update on the fitness of both Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.
The Reds currently hold a five-point lead in the table and have the opportunity to extend it with a win over Southampton. However, they will have to face the Saints without the help of some key players who are dealing with injuries. Captain Virgil van Dijk and vice-captain Alexander-Arnold are among those on the injury list, with the latter having picked up a thigh issue just before the international break. He was forced to withdraw from England duty, along with several other players.
There was hope that Alexander-Arnold would be able to return in time for the Southampton match, which is followed by crucial games against Real Madrid and Manchester City next week. However, Slot has revealed that the 26-year-old has not yet returned to training and will not be available for Sunday's game against the bottom-ranked team.
On the other hand, there is some good news regarding Virgil van Dijk. The center-back returned to Anfield early from the Netherlands squad due to "medical grounds." When asked about the fitness of both players in a press conference on Friday, Slot humorously commented, "Trent and Virgil? I was expecting a different question!" referring to the ongoing speculation about their futures at the club. He then confirmed that van Dijk has trained with the team and is doing well, while Alexander-Arnold is still recovering but expected to return soon.
The manager also provided updates on other injured players, including goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who has been out of action for nearly two months with a hamstring injury. Slot stated that they are being cautious with all players when it comes to muscle injuries, and Alisson is currently training with the goalkeeper coach but not yet with the team. He is expected to return to full training soon, but his match fitness is still a concern. As for attacking trio Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott, and Federico Chiesa, they are all making progress in their recoveries and are expected to be back in a few weeks. However, the final stage of recovery is always the toughest, so the team will have to wait and see.
In conclusion, it seems that Liverpool will have to make do without some key players for their upcoming matches, but there is hope that they will all return to full fitness soon. As for the immediate future, it is uncertain if Alexander-Arnold will be available for the Real Madrid game, while Alisson and Jota are not expected to be fit for that match. The team will have to wait and see how the players progress in their recoveries.
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