- Trent Alexander-Arnold is available to start for Liverpool against Man City
- But Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate are both rated as doubtful for the game
- Liverpool correspondent LEWIS STEELE tells all on bombshell chat with Mo Salah – LISTEN NOW to It’s All Kicking Off! New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been passed fit to play for Liverpool in Sunday’s huge Premier League clash with title rivals Manchester City.
The Reds right back – whose contract is due to expire at the end of June – was an unused substitute on Wednesday when his team-mates beat Real Madrid 2-0 in the Champions League.
He has not played since sustaining a low grade hamstring injury during a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on November 9.
But Arne Slot confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Alexander-Arnold will be available to start when City come to Merseyside.
Slot could possibly opt to stick with Conor Bradley though after the 21-year-old’s Player of the Match performance against Madrid. Ibrahima Konate also impressed on Wednesday as he and Bradley combined to nullify Kylian Mbappe.
However, both Bradley and Konate are currently rated as doubtful ahead of Sunday’s game.
‘They are still being assessed so it is difficult to know where they are,’ Slot said at Thursday’s press conference.
‘Let’s wait and see but it’s never a good sign if players… Conor I had to take him off and Ibou didn’t walk off the pitch as he should after such a fantastic game. He should have made a round and clapped to the fans but unfortunately he couldn’t so that’s not a good sign.
‘Trent will be fit to start.’
Another player who impressed against Madrid was goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who saved an Mbappe penalty.
Kelleher has been enjoying a run of starts due to Alisson being out with a hamstring issue. However, it is widely expected that the Brazilian will go straight back into the team once fit, which could prompt Kelleher to eye a move away in search of No 1 status.
Slot added: ‘I’m expecting every player wants to be the number one, not only in the goalkeeper position but in every position.
‘It is always up to the player if he can accept his role and from this moment, from the start of the season until now, Caoimhin has accepted his in a great manner, both when he did and didn’t play.
‘It’s far too early to say what can happen next season. I want every player to want to play every game.
‘It’s completely normal for him and all the others but then it’s always about the attitude when you don’t play and that has been outstanding.
‘They should have the eagerness to play but if they don’t, they have to act in a normal way and that’s what they all do at the moment.’
City will start the weekend second in the Premier League table. However, a defeat at Anfield would see them end it 11 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola’s men led 3-0 against Feyenoord in midweek before collapsing to draw 3-3 in the Champions League. That shocking result followed five consecutive losses in all competitions, including a 4-0 home defeat by Tottenham last Sunday.
Slot said: ‘Everybody is looking at their results but if you face them, you analyse it. They were 1-0 up against Brighton and could have scored one or two more. They could have been two or three goals up against Tottenham and against Feyenoord – that has not happened many times.
‘They are still a very, very good team and one of the reasons why I think Pep Guardiola is one of the best managers in the world – I think he is the best – he always comes up with solutions for his problems.
‘We all know he will come up with a solution but hopefully after Sunday.’
