Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted that a late call will have to be made on Trent Alexander-Arnold's involvement in Wednesday's Premier League Merseyside derby with Everton.
The two fierce rivals will reconvene for one last time at Everton's Goodison Park home tomorrow night, after the derby was originally postponed in December due to Storm Darragh.
The Reds will come into the highly-anticipated battle with an almost fully-fit squad, but Alexander-Arnold has missed their last two games owing to the hamstring injury he sustained in the 2-0 win over Bournemouth two weekends ago.
The 26-year-old has been forced to sit out the Reds' EFL Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur and shock 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle, but Slot confirmed in his pre-game press conference that Alexander-Arnold had returned to partial training.
However, the Dutchman could not guarantee that the right-back would be available for the trip to Goodison, telling reporters: "Trent has done parts of training sessions with us.
Slot delivers Alexander-Arnold update as Joe Gomez ruled out
© Imago
"Not 'sessions', a session, yesterday. So, let's see how he is today. He will train, hopefully, with us again and then we have to decide if we take him to the game, yes or no."
While Alexander-Arnold is a maybe for the derby, fellow defender Joe Gomez is a definite no, as the England international sustained yet another hamstring issue in the weekend's loss to Plymouth.
Gomez wore the captain's armband on what was his first appearance of 2025, having previously missed several weeks of action with the injury he picked up against West Ham United at the end of 2024.
Slot confirmed that the 27-year-old's new issue was on the same leg as his previous problem, and while he is still undergoing assessment, he will watch from the sidelines tomorrow.
"Joe, it's the same leg where he had the injury last time. We are still assessing that but he will definitely not be available tomorrow," the Liverpool boss added.
Conor Bradley will be expected to fill in at right-back if neither Gomez nor Alexander-Arnold make the cut, and Liverpool will also be without Tyler Morton, who is weeks away from returning from a shoulder injury.
Slot warns Liverpool to expect "fantastic" Goodison atmosphere
© Imago
Liverpool's trip to Everton on Wednesday will mark Slot's first - and indeed last - visit to Goodison Park before the Toffees relocate to Bramley-Moore Dock, and the historic ground has been the site of some captivating Merseyside derbies down the years.
The former Feyenoord boss is anticipating a "fantastic" atmosphere for Wednesday's closing act and has warned his players of the danger that could bring, adding: "I think it's an extra reason why the atmosphere will be even better than all the ones before. I haven't been to one before but people tell me at Goodison Park, as at Anfield, it is always a fantastic atmosphere.
"When you have the ball you have to be as calm as you can in this fantastic atmosphere but it is not the first time for these players that they are playing in atmospheres like this so I hope they can focus on what they have to do.
"I assume our players are ready for another battle tomorrow for the simple reason that they have been ready for the whole season and many of them are experienced in this tie."
Liverpool have held a six-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table with a game in hand for several weeks, and their advantage will therefore extend to nine on the same number of matches should they spoil the Goodison party.
Ben Knapton
