After missing three games due to a hamstring injury, Trent Alexander-Arnold is now nearing a return to on-field duties.
Liverpool’s right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to return from injury following a hamstring suffered in the Premier League win over Aston Villa with the fullback racing a return to fitness ahead of the midweek clash with Leicester.
The 24-year-old has been out for almost a month since being removed from the game during Liverpool’s 3-0 victory against Aston Villa on September 3.
Despite his absence, the Reds have been able to secure victories against Wolves, LASK Linz in the Europa League and West Ham last weekend, winning 3-1 across all games.
However, with the Reds having four games in 12 days, Jurgen Klopp is desperate to have the England international back in his team.
In preparation for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup encounter against Leicester, Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders, spoke with the media and shared some positive news regarding the team’s vice-captain.
“Trent trained yesterday with us but it was just in the rondo and the ball possession with the counter-pressing, but he was outstanding,” said Ljinders.
“You see him instantly, of course. He is with the team training, I am not sure if he will be ready, we will see today.”
“But then if we speak about Trent we have to make a compliment to Joe Gomez because the way he played the role, played the role in his way but still being able to come inside as well, was just incredible,” he added.
“His level and attitude, just a big compliment to him because you are replacing one of the best full-backs in the world. He did really, really well.”
“That’s good and shows a lot about our squad as well, that we can have that,” the assistant manager said.
“Tomorrow comes too early for [Alexander-Arnold],” Lijnders later added at a press conference.
Gomez came off the bench to replace Stefan Bajcetic in the opening Europa League encounter in Austria after starting Liverpool’s previous two fixtures. Since joining the Reds in 2015, the 26-year-old defender has frequently filled in at right-back despite preferring to play in the centre of defence.
With Klopp’s decision to send full-back Calvin Ramsay on loan to Preston in order to acquire experience, he has been given time in the position more often and the English defender is a more than capable replacement, although lacking Alexander-Arnold’s attacking threat.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return to the team will be a huge boost as he already made 277 appearances for his childhood club, scoring 16 goals and providing 73 assists.
Liverpool plays Leicester in the 3rd round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before a trip to North London to take on unbeaten Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday. They then face Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League and Brighton before the next international break.
