Liverpool doesn’t return to action until next midweek because it is not involved in the FA Cup this weekend, giving Arne Slot some extra time to prepare for the Merseyside derby against Everton.
The Reds boss will hope that the few additional days will help his side further recover from a few injuries, too, with a handful of concerns across his roster heading into the Anfield clash. With just nine Premier League matches left this season, the title is very much in sight for Liverpool but still needs to be confirmed with a few more victories.
In the long-term category, Joe Gomez is not back yet. He had surgery on a hamstring injury in February, though Slot has already stated that he expects him to be back before the season ends. The plan is for the defender to play again, though no risks will be taken.
Conor Bradley is also absent at the moment with no exact timeline placed on his return. He has a muscle issue and didn’t play for Northern Ireland during the international break as a result. With Trent Alexander-Arnold also out at the moment with the injury he sustained against PSG in the Champions League, that is not ideal.
Like Bradley, there has been no expectations set on a return to action for Alexander-Arnold. With news breaking this week that a move to Real Madrid is close to being agreed, he is likely to be top of the agenda when Slot addresses the media next.
His next press conference will be on Tuesday ahead of facing Everton, where he will be asked about not just the injury situation of the number 66, but also his long-term future. It is possible that Alexander-Arnold, who appeared to be visibly upset when he went down against PSG, might have played his last game for his boyhood club.
(Image: Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Ryan Gravenberch was sent home early from Netherlands duty and didn’t play in either of the Dutch’s games with Spain. He had picked up a knock during the Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United and while he joined up with Ronald Koeman’s squad initially, it was soon determined that he wouldn’t be risked.
Hopefully, that has given him enough time to recover and get some rest given the amount of minutes he has played so far this season. Come the summer, bringing in some extra help to ease the burden on the 22-year-old should be a priority.
Alisson Becker also came back to Merseyside early. He was injured in Brazil’s 2-1 win over Colombia. Because it was a head injury, the protocols in place prevented him from facing Argentina a few days later, though the hope is that he should now be fine to return to club duties having posted on social media to confirm that he is feeling OK.
