- Trent Alexander-Arnold is available to start for Liverpool against Man City
- But Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate are both rated doubtful for the game
- Liverpool correspondent LEWIS STEELE tells all in bombshell chat with Mo Salah – LISTEN NOW It all starts! New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been declared fit to play for Liverpool in Sunday’s big Premier League clash with title rivals Manchester City.
The Reds right-back – whose contract expires at the end of June – was an unused substitute as his teammates beat Real Madrid 2-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
He has not played since suffering a minor hamstring injury during a 2-0 win 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 may opt to stick with Conor Bradley 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 destroy Kylian Mbappe.
However, both Bradley and Konate are currently rated as questionable ahead of Sunday’s match.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was an unused substitute in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Real Madrid, but Arne Slot has confirmed the Liverpool star is now available to start against Man City on Sunday.
“They are still being assessed, so it is difficult to know where they are,” Slot said at the press conference on Thursday.
‘Let’s wait and see, but it’s never a good sign when players… Conor. I had to take him off the field and Ibou didn’t walk off the field like he should after such a fantastic match. He should have gone around and clapped for the fans, but unfortunately he couldn’t, so that’s not a good sign.
“Trent will be fit to start.”
Another player to impress against Madrid was goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who saved Mbappe’s penalty.
Kelleher has enjoyed a string of starts as Alisson was out with a hamstring problem. However, it is widely expected that the Brazilian will return straight to the team once fit, which could prompt Kelleher to consider a move away in search of No.1 status.
Slot added: ‘I expect that every player wants to be number one, not only in the goalkeeper position, but in every position.
“It is always up to the player whether he can accept his role and from this moment, from the start of the season until now, Caoimhin has accepted his in a great way, both when he has played and when he has not.
‘It’s still far too early to say what could happen next season. I want every player to want to play every game.
“It’s completely normal for him and everyone else, but it’s always about the attitude when you’re not playing and that was excellent.
“They have to have the eagerness to play, but if they don’t, they have to behave normally and they are all doing that at the moment.”
City starts second in the Premier League next weekend. However, a defeat at Anfield would see them finish eleven 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 shock result followed five consecutive defeats in all competitions, including a 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham last Sunday.
Slot said: ‘Everyone looks at their results, but when you face them, you analyze them. They were 1-0 up against Brighton and could have scored one or two more. Against Tottenham and Feyenoord they could have been two or three goals ahead – that doesn’t happen often.
‘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 – always comes up with solutions to his problems.
“We all know he will come up with a solution, but hopefully after Sunday.”