Liverpool boss Arne Slot has confirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold is yet to return to training, while Virgil van Dijk is fit despite an injury and is on international duty.
Alexander-Arnold left Lee Carsley's England camp due to a hamstring injury that forced him to be withdrawn after 25 minutes during the Reds' 2-0 win over Aston Villa. Van Dijk also left his international squad prematurely due to an injury he sustained while away in the Netherlands.
Asked about the fitness of his defensive duo ahead of his side's trip to the bottom half of the league live on Sky Sports this weekend, Slot said:
“Virgilius [van Dijk] is all good and training with us today,” he said.
'Virgil is completely fine. Trent [Alexander-Arnold] is not training with us yet, but he will be, so we expect him to be back with us soon.”
However, Slot suggested Alexander-Arnold could return in time for Wednesday's Champions League clash against Real Madrid, but said he “doesn't expect” Alisson or Diogo Jota to be in contention.
“All I can say is that with Alisson and with Jota, I don't expect them to be available for that game,” he said. “With Trent it will be somewhere in between.”
Slot also confirmed that Harvey Elliott is back training with the team after breaking his foot in September.
“Harvey [Elliott] is training with us again, that is the positive thing, he is back on the training field with the team, that is positive for him.”
Slot was able to enjoy the international breakthrough with his Liverpool team five points clear at the top of the table.
But while the title chances have shifted during City's recent struggles – Pep Guardiola's side are four games without a win, two of them in the league – Slot said it was too early in the season to make any assumptions.
“It would be a bit strange if I told you that I don't like being in the position we are in now, but we also understand that we have only played eleven games now, so that is still a lot of games that we have to to play.
“We all know that the teams we face in this competition can play the same series of games as us. If we want to stay where we are, we have to keep getting results, which won't be easy, starting on Sunday. ” .
“It won't be easy, even though everyone thinks they are at the bottom of the league. “Southampton doesn't play like that at all and they have made it difficult for teams in the top three or four.” Their playing style is very interesting, it is a pleasure to watch their matches.”
Rivals City announced a new two-year contract for Guardiola on Thursday and Slot called it good news for the Premier League, even if it might make life more difficult for him and others.
“That's first and foremost good news for City, and also good news for the league, because I think everyone here wants the best possible managers and the best players,” said Slot.
“He's definitely one of the best managers in the league, if not the best. When you look at what he's done – four consecutive champions – then it's fair to say he's arguably the best manager in the league is.
“It's a good thing, but on the other hand City have so many quality players that if he made the choice to leave the club I would never expect them to be bottom of the league next season.
“It's good for the City fans and interesting for us to continue to compete against one of the best managers football has ever had.”
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