Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold Could Return, Gomez Ruled Out for Derby

LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool‘s injury concerns ahead of the Merseyside derby have intensified as manager Arne Slot provided mixed updates on key player fitness on Tuesday. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has missed the last two matches due to a hamstring injury, may return for the crucial clash against Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

During a pre-match press conference, Slot noted that Alexander-Arnold had participated in parts of a training session on Tuesday. “Trent has done parts of training sessions with us. Not ‘sessions,’ a session, yesterday,” he said. “So, let’s see how he is today. He will train, hopefully, with us again and then we have to decide if we take him to the game, yes or no.”

In contrast, Joe Gomez‘s situation appears more dire. The defender, who was forced to exit early during Liverpool’s recent FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle, has been ruled out of the derby. “Joe, it’s the same leg where he had the injury last time,” Slot explained. “We are still assessing that but he will definitely not be available tomorrow.” This injury is particularly concerning as it affects the same leg that previously sidelined Gomez for ten matches.

When asked if he suspected that Gomez’s recurring injury was a cause for concern, Slot admitted, “That’s mostly a concern.” Gomez’s early substitution against Plymouth left Slot searching for answers, particularly in the lead-up to such an important matchup against their local rivals.

Gomez had just returned to the squad after overcoming a hamstring injury in December, but his outing against Plymouth lasted only 11 minutes before he felt discomfort. Slot stated that while he could not confirm the specifics of Gomez’s injury, it was clear the defender felt unease during the match, leading to his withdrawal.

Slot isn’t ruling out the potential impact of other players either. Curtis Jones, another key midfielder, was sidelined during the Plymouth match despite being named on the bench. “Curtis Jones was on the bench, but he came to me this morning and said, ‘I don’t think I am fully recovered yet,'” Slot said. Fortunately for Liverpool, Jones is likely fit enough to play against Everton.

Should Alexander-Arnold miss the match, young defender Conor Bradley is expected to step in at right-back. Bradley has shown promise in previous appearances, but Slot emphasized that the Merseyside derby is always a challenging fixture. “Derbies are always difficult,” he said. “I have experienced this many times, but I hope I don’t experience it tomorrow!”

Historically, the rivalry between Liverpool and Everton produces intense and unpredictable matches, as evidenced by Everton’s 2-0 win against Liverpool at Goodison Park last season, which halted Liverpool’s then 12-match unbeaten run against their rivals.

As Liverpool leads the Premier League standings with 56 points from 23 matches, their focus will be on maintaining their position following their FA Cup elimination. The Reds still remain intent on maximizing their chances in the league, despite the setback compared to both teams’ past performances.