Liverpool manager Arne Slot says Trent Alexander-Arnold is ready to face Tottenham in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday after their poor performance against Manchester United.
Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a move to Real Madrid this month and was not fit during Sunday’s thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield.
But Slot says the whole team is ready to respond against Tottenham and highlighted their excellent season so far.
He said: “I think we were all disappointed [about Sunday’s draw with Manchester United] not only Trent Alexander-Arnold, we were all disappointed.
“Firstly about the result. We weren’t completely happy with certain parts of our game. It wasn’t just Trent, there were other things we could have done better.
Then our #CarabaoCup semi-final first leg ✊ pic.twitter.com/ZrwbFI7xcF
–Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 6, 2025
“Trent didn’t play his best game, but some others didn’t play their best either.
“If you play 50 or 60 games in a season, one of them will not be your best performance. Perhaps we should point out that these players are playing so well despite playing two games a week.
“I think it will benefit all players [not just Trent Alexander-Arnold – to play again tomorrow]. Everyone wants to play. Almost all of them are in good shape.
Liverpool have lost just once all season in all competitions under Slot – against Nottingham Forest – and have won a remarkable 23 out of 28 games so far.
They won the EFL Cup for a record 10th time last season and go into Wednesday’s match at Tottenham as favorites to retain it.
Like Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk are out of contract this summer but Slot says they remain focused on winning.
“If Mohamed Salah misses a penalty against Real Madrid, he is distracted by his ‘contract situation’,” Slot said.
“If Trent isn’t playing well, he’s distracted by his ‘contract situation.’
“If everyone plays well, no one is distracted by their “contract distraction.”
“I don’t focus on social media posts or what people are saying. If you do that as Liverpool manager you won’t have a life because people are always talking about us.
Team news – Szoboszlai a doubt
Liverpool have been boosted by the return of defenders Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley, who both featured against United on Sunday.
Forward Federico Chiesa was on the bench for this match and is available, but midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is unlikely to play due to illness.
