Arne Slot has provided an update on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury after the Liverpool defender was forced to leave the pitch during the 2-0 victory at Bournemouth on Saturday. Liverpool battled to secure the three points at the Vitality Stadium, extending their lead to nine points at the top of the Premier League, ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City.
Mohamed Salah’s penalty and a spectacular second-half goal sealed the win, despite Bournemouth’s relentless efforts.
However, there was a major concern when Alexander-Arnold signaled that he couldn’t continue after 70 minutes and limped off, with Conor Bradley taking his place.
The injury comes at a crucial time for Liverpool, as February promises a hectic schedule, including league fixtures against Everton, Manchester City, and Newcastle, as well as the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham, where Spurs hold a 1-0 advantage.
Slot spoke after the match, confirming that Alexander-Arnold is unlikely to feature in Thursday’s important Carabao Cup clash.
“He felt something, though I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is. It’s never a good sign when a player asks to be substituted,” Slot said. “I’d be surprised if he plays on Thursday.”
Should the 26-year-old miss out, Bradley is expected to take his place in the starting lineup. Following the Spurs match, Liverpool will face Plymouth in the FA Cup and then head to Goodison Park for the Merseyside derby on February 12.
Despite the injury setback, Slot remained positive about the result, telling Sky Sports: “Exactly the game we expected. Bournemouth’s intensity was high, and they kept running every second. We had to push ourselves to the limit and needed a bit of luck to get the win. I’m happy we managed to keep a clean sheet and score two goals against a strong team.”