Premier League leaders Liverpool are set to face Southampton this Sunday without the services of key defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, while goalkeeper Alisson is still not match-ready despite returning to training. The news comes as manager Arne Slot grapples with injuries that threaten to disrupt the Reds' dominant run at the top of the Premier League table.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, has been sidelined since November 9th with a hamstring injury suffered during Liverpool's 3-0 win over Aston Villa. The defender had to pull out of the England squad for the recent international break and will miss Sunday’s clash at St Mary’s. Speaking to reporters, Slot confirmed that while Alexander-Arnold has not yet returned to full training, he is making steady progress and could rejoin the team soon.
"Trent isn't training with us at the moment, but he's working hard and is getting closer to a return," Slot said.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper, Alisson, 32, has also been recovering from a hamstring injury. The Brazilian shot-stopper has not featured since October 5th, but Slot reassured fans that Alisson is slowly regaining fitness. However, he made it clear that Alisson will not be ready in time for Sunday’s match.
"Alisson is training separately with the goalkeepers and is making progress, but he isn’t fit to play yet," Slot explained. "We are being cautious with all muscle injuries."
Despite the setbacks, Liverpool fans will be relieved to hear that captain Virgil van Dijk is expected to return to full fitness in time for the weekend fixture. The Dutch defender, who has missed some training sessions, will join the team in preparation for Southampton. However, forwards Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa remain on the sidelines, with Slot predicting their return in the coming weeks.
The injury woes come at a challenging time for Liverpool, who will face a congested fixture list over the next month. With a five-point lead over reigning champions Manchester City, the Reds are in a strong position atop the Premier League, but they face a tough run of games, including a Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday and a massive league encounter with City at Anfield on December 1st.
Slot stressed that the immediate focus remains on Southampton, who are bottom of the Premier League but have shown resilience in recent matches. "Southampton may be at the bottom, but they are a dangerous side. They’ve shown they can compete against top teams like Manchester City, Arsenal, and Wolves," Slot warned. "They have a strong playing style and could be unlucky not to have more points. We're not taking them lightly."
Despite their struggles this season, Southampton's performance against other top-tier clubs has earned respect, and Liverpool will need to be at their best to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Slot also emphasized the importance of focusing on one match at a time, with the upcoming fixture against Southampton being the priority. "The next game is always the most important, and we’ll approach it with the same mentality as any other," Slot stated.
