Arne Slot issues new update as 'incredible' Liverpool star eyes imminent return | OneFootball

Premier League champions-elect could seal the title as early as this weekend if results go their way

Arne Slot has no new update on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future, but is hoping he could return from injury for Liverpool this weekend.

While that pair have committed their respective futures to Anfield, Alexander-Arnold is widely expected to depart Merseyside at the end of the season and join Real Madrid on a free transfer.

Leicester, meanwhile, will join bottom club Southampton in seeing their immediate demotion back to the Championship confirmed if they do not win at the King Power Stadium this weekend.

“No, I think you would be surprised if I answered differently to the rest of the season,” Slot told reporters on Alexander-Arnold’s contract situation at his pre-match press conference on Friday. “It is for hours the same answer: we don't talk about these things when they are not done and they are not.”

Alexander-Arnold has not played for Liverpool since suffering an ankle injury during the Champions League last-16 second-leg defeat by Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on March 11, during which time rumours over his impending switch to Madrid have gathered serious pace, missing the last four games across all competitions including the Carabao Cup final defeat by Newcastle at Wembley and Merseyside derby against Everton.

Comeback: Trent Alexander-Arnold could make the Liverpool bench against Leicester this weekend

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However, the 26-year-old has been stepping up his recovery and resumed training this week, with Slot previously unsure of an exact comeback date but insisting that the player was expected to return this season.

Providing another update on his fitness on Friday, Slot said: “Trent is coming back from an injury, he trained with us yesterday and every time he plays with us and trains with us he shows his commitment.

“He has worked so hard to be back already now, and the moment he is on the pitch he shows me what a great football player he is and how much he is involved in us trying to achieve our goals this season.

“He has worked so hard during the whole season and now during his rehab to be back with the team again. The fans of Liverpool, everyone who watches football for the last five, six or seven years, knows he is an incredible full-back, has been an incredible full-back for this football club and let’s see what the future brings.

“[He is] not [ready] to start but if things go well today and tomorrow, he might – might – be on the bench. But definitely not to start because he is out for five-and-a-half weeks and this is today probably his first session with the team.

“It was Wednesday I think he did parts of the team session. So he’s not able to start but hopefully he can be able to join us because for Conor [Bradley], he has been out for a long time so for him to play 90 isn’t easy as well.

“So it would be nice if Trent is with us during the weekend, yes.”

Alexander-Arnold’s fellow right-back Bradley made his first start since returning from a hamstring injury in last weekend’s 2-1 win over West Ham, though versatile defender Joe Gomez remains sidelined after hamstring surgery.

Striker Darwin Nunez is expected to be back in the Liverpool squad against Leicester having missed the West Ham game through illness.