Trent Alexander-Arnold won’t play for Liverpool at Plymouth Argyle on Sunday and is a doubt for the Merseyside derby next week, according to Reds boss Arne Slot.
The England full-back, who has yet to sign a new contract at Anfield with his current deal expiring in the summer, sustained an injury in the win at Bournemouth last Saturday and missed last night’s thumping 4-0 win over Tottenham in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.
Conor Bradley deputised against Spurs and was superb in an excellent all-round display as the Merseysiders set up a final clash against Newcastle.
Liverpool now head to Plymouth for an FA Cup fourth-round tie before their rescheduled clash with Everton on February 12.
Arne Slot has provided fitness updates on Trent Alexander-Arnold and Tyler Morton 🔴
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 7, 2025
Trent is ‘not ready’
Slot said: “I don’t think he [Alexander-Arnold] is ready yet. This game [against Plymouth] is going to be too early for him.
“It is difficult to say if he will be back [for the Merseyside derby]. It’s not going to take months or even weeks, but that game is only three days after the Plymouth Argyle one. Let’s wait and see if he is available.
“We also want to look at it long-term because we don’t want to take any risks with so many games coming up afterwards. If he is fit, then we will use him.”
Alexander-Arnold has been heavily linked with a free agent switch to Real Madrid in the summer and Slot knows he has a good player on his hands should Bradley be the one to step up.
He added: ”For many positions, we have two [players]. [Two] good right-backs, two good left-backs, more than two good centre-backs, and I could go on.
“Right-back is just an example of that.”
Squad members to play against Plymouth
Slot will rotate his squad against Championship strugglers Plymouth as he tries to juggle Liverpool’s commitments on four fronts.
“It is always a tricky tie, no matter what team you play, because it is an away game and it is probably their ‘final’, as is often the case when Liverpool goes anywhere,” Slot said.
“I think it is important in these moments for players that don’t get much playing time to have that playing time, so that if we ever need them then they are ready. If you never play them, it is so difficult for them to be ready if we do get some injuries or suspensions.
“We will definitely use some players that haven’t played so much.”