Not a good sign…’ – Arne Slot provides post-match injury update on Trent Alexander-Arnold
Arne Slot has given an update on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury, which occurred during Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday night. While the win extended Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to five points, the sight of Alexander-Arnold limping off the pitch in the first half cast a shadow over the result. The 26-year-old appeared to be holding his hamstring as he was replaced by Conor Bradley, leaving fans concerned about the severity of the injury.
In his post-match press conference, Slot expressed his concern about the injury, noting that Alexander-Arnold had asked to come off due to the pain he was feeling. However, he refrained from providing a specific timeline for the defender’s potential absence. Slot said (via liverpoolfc.com): “It’s difficult to say how serious it is, but it’s always serious if a player goes out in the first half. Not because I didn’t like him, but because he asked to come off himself. He didn’t ask to come off because he was tired; he asked because he felt something.”
Slot acknowledged that while it’s too early to determine the full extent of the injury, the fact that Alexander-Arnold requested to leave the field isn’t a good sign. He added, “It’s always difficult to say exactly what it is so soon after the game. Let’s wait and see. I would be surprised if we see him play for England this week, but hopefully he can recover quickly.”
Trent’s injury may not be as serious as initially feared. While it will likely take another day or two to fully assess the extent of the injury, it’s promising that Slot hasn’t ruled out the possibility of the 26-year-old playing for England during the upcoming international break.
Given that he limped off during the match, most Liverpool fans would prefer if Trent was left out of England’s Nations League fixtures, allowing him extra time to recover. The break in the club season could work in both his and Liverpool’s favor.
Of course, everyone hopes Trent will be fit to play in Liverpool’s upcoming matches, but should he be sidelined, Conor Bradley is more than capable of stepping in and filling the gap.
Let’s hope Trent’s injury isn’t as concerning as it first appeared.
