Alexander-Arnold Makes Welcome Return to Liverpool Training Ground

Trent Alexander-Arnold has made a return to team training after battling a hamstring injury that had kept him sidelined since the club’s impressive 3-0 victory over Aston Villa earlier this month.

Assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders, who has been keeping a close eye on Alexander-Arnold’s recovery, expressed his delight at seeing the young star back on the pitch. The talented right-back, a key figure in Liverpool’s recent successes, took part in a range of training exercises, including rondo and ball possession with counter-pressing.

Lijnders, who was quick to praise Alexander-Arnold’s performance in training, noted that his involvement was a positive sign but remained cautious about the player’s availability for the upcoming fixture against Leicester. The assistant manager acknowledged that the decision on whether Alexander-Arnold would feature in the match was still up in the air, pending further assessments of his fitness.

However, later in a press conference, Lijnders definitively confirmed that Alexander-Arnold would not be taking part in the match scheduled for the following day. This decision, while undoubtedly disappointing for Liverpool supporters, underscores the club’s commitment to ensuring that their star defender fully recovers before making a return to competitive action.

The Reds will host Leicester in the Carabao Cup in what is expected to be an easy game, with William Hill listing a win by three goals or more as short as 2-1. Having only dropped last season from the top tier of English football though, the Foxes will fancy their chances of an upset.

In the absence of Alexander-Arnold, the spotlight has fallen on Joe Gomez, who has been tasked with filling the shoes of one of the world’s finest fullbacks. Lijnders was quick to acknowledge Gomez’s commendable performance, highlighting the immense challenge that comes with replacing such a talent.